Rearing horse and trainer, drawn on a letter (recto). Studies of women and children (verso)

Inscription: Inscribed in pen and brown ink on right portion of recto: "W. Etty Esq,/My good friend - I hope this will meet you in good health. I beg you will pardon my troubling you with this epistle. If I may be allowed to say, I find in my mind your condescending kindness and goodness will pardon me. I also do myself the pleasure of informing you I have coloured the Picture of the Boys boxing for you. Also I have the pleasure of saying if I am not flattered, its better finished and more mellow in tone than the one I did myself the pleasure of shewing you. Also I beg to say I shall do myself the pleasure of begging you will accept it when the print book is bound of which the prints I have taken to the bookbinders - my Dear Sir and kind friend,/I remain your obedient servant,/Edwin Beckett/6 Charlotte/Thursday/10 O Clock - night"

Inscribed in pen and brown ink on left portion of verso, in the hand of Edwin Beckett: "Paid/W. Etty, Esq./14 Buckingham St/Strand/London"

Inscribed in pen and brown ink on right portion of verso, in the hand of Edwin Beckett: "The offerings of Cain and Abel/4 Chapter of Gene…/3 Verse Cain brought an offering/4v and Abel, he brought of the firstlings of his flock -/5v but unto Cain the Lord had not respect and Cain was wroth/6v and the Lord said unto Cain why art though wroth/7v and Cain talked with Abel his brother and it came to pass when the[y] were in the field that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him."

Inscribed in pen and brown ink on right portion of verso, in the hand of Edwin Beckett: "We find it therefore remarked when mention is made of Cain and Abel offering sacrifices that they brought them. But to whom did they bring - why in al probability to their father Adam who as Priest of the family was to offer sacrifice in their names and so ought every scriptural son of the second Adam who is entrusted with the care of a household to offer spiritual sacrifices of supplication and thanksgivings to God through Jesus Christ in the presence and name of all who wait at his table./G. Whitefield on family prayer/page 192."

Marking: Postmark on left portion of verso in red ink: "P.D. Oct 23/1840/12NN"
Postmark on left portion of verso in red ink: "Gr. Russell St./ Paid"

Mary Cushing Fosburgh

Sarah Burnage, Mark Hallett, Laura Turner William Etty: Art and Controversy Published to coincide with the exhibitionm June 25, 2011-January 22, 2012. York Museums Trust, 2011, similar studies of the Elgin marbles, and cat. nos. 29-34, pp. 162-164.