Welcome to Henry's Travel Blog!
Although he kept detailed business papers, Missouri Botanical Garden founder Henry Shaw left little personal material for biographers to consider in analyzing his life. One of the few items which remain is a series of five journals. Following his retirement from the hardware business in 1840, Shaw traveled abroad and made notes, recollections, and even sketches in these small bound books. Join us as we chart Henry's journey to Europe and beyond.
 
Shaw's variable spellings, punctuation, and grammar, preserved throughout, are typical even for well-educated gentlemen in the 19th Century. Important note (4/14/09): The entries from March 11, 2009 through April 8, 2009, correspond to recently discovered text from Henry Shaw's journal. They will be posted online under the correct dates to preserve chronological accuracy.
 
   
   

Posted Online Saturday, October 3, 2009

December 27, 1841: Purchase of Paintings

Received sister Saralis two letters the last dated Nov. 24th - have great pleasure in hearing from my dear friends. Poor Sarah still complains - am afraid the day is not distant when we shall have to lose my dear sister.

From David Weber, an old and respectable merchant of Venice, who says he sells off his gallery because his sons have no taste for paintings - purchased the following -

Madonna-infant Saviour & St. John - by Titian but retouched with frame

Lucretia - by Bassano

Boys head Deo with frame

Scipio Africana by Antonio Balestra Do

Sacra familia

Sea View - Coast of Greece with frame

Stewart & Revel - An Eng & french

Travello in Greece of the last century

Head of Saint - by Giuseppe Diamantini with frame

Ladies playing music by Giorgione some say Pietro Vecchia with frame

Brought these paintings in a gondola to my rooms with intention of packing & forwarding to English - wrote a long letter to Mr. Simos at Florence -