Letter from Marvin Ross, Moscow to Robert and Mildred Bliss, August 11, 1957 Digital
Scope and Contents
Handwritten letter on printed letterhead (Gostinitsa "Savoi", G. Moskva) from Marvin C. Ross to Mildred Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss reporting he arrived late at night in Moscow the day before last and yesterday spent time at the Pushkin Museum and the Historical Museum. He is seeing a few things and arranging others to be taken out of the cases on Monday and Tuesday morning. The afternoon was his first visit to the Kremlin as it was closed in 1939. He reports "startling treasures there", not only superb enamels but the greatest collection of Byzantine glyptics he has ever seen. Marvin says "How well they would suit your collection.
Marvin provides details on the treasures: The two layer gate which was illustrated so many times looked about 2 1/2 inches high and as large as his hand; The two lapis lazuli cameos were as large or larger than the one in The Louvre and just as fine; a big Jasper cameo and many small ones of quality in different stones; the two beautiful steatiles "one of this world", the larger on is of St. George on horseback and six inches square, the other important one is of St. John Prodromes and six by 4 inches, and carved about one inch deep.
Marvin says once he finishes his book on enamels he must complete my work on Byzantine glyptics. He feels they are lovely and what a sensation it will be when people really begin to know about them.
He is scheduled to arrive in Paris on July 16th. Although his time was not extended, he feels luch has been with him all the way.
Dates
- Creation: August 11, 1957
Creator
- Ross, Marvin C. (Marvin Chauncey), 1904-1977 (Correspondent, Person)
Language of Materials
Materials chiefly in English with a few items in Greek, Latin, French, Italian, or Spanish.
Conditions Governing Access
An appointment is required for access to these papers. To request an appointment, fill out the online form: http://www.doaks.org/research/library-archives/access-and-hours/schedule-an-appointment.
For research queries, contact the staff of Image Collections and Fieldwork Archives (library@doaks.org).
Extent
23 boxes (Approximately 2632 items including correspondence, expense reports, invoices, estimates, deposit records, book lists, newspaper clippings, newsletters, and plant lists.)Creator
- Ross, Marvin C. (Marvin Chauncey), 1904-1977 (Correspondent, Person)
Subject
- Bliss, Mildred Barnes, 1879-1969 (Recipient, Person)
- Bliss, Robert Woods, 1875-1962 (Recipient, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Dumbarton Oaks Repository
Dumbarton Oaks holds archival collections in its Rare Book Collection, Image Collections and Fieldwork Archives, and the Dumbarton Oaks Archives. The collections include: the papers of noteworthy scholars in the three fields that Dumbarton Oaks supports (Byzantine, Pre-Columbian, and Garden and Landscape); image collections depicting objects or sites of topical interest to scholars in the three fields; Beatrix Farrand’s personal archive of letters and original drawings that document the development of the Dumbarton Oaks Garden; and institutional records and architectural plans and drawings documenting the history of Dumbarton Oaks. For more information about hours and to make an appointment to consult any of the collections listed here, please fill out the request form: https://www.doaks.org/research/library-archives/schedule-an-appointment