Giacomo Raggi & Arthur Spicer Brockenbrough
Agreement
[8 September 1823]
Articles of agreement entered into by Arthur S Brockenbrough Proctor of the University of
Virginia and on behalf of the said University on the one part and Giacomo Raggi of Italy
Sculptor on the other part.
The said Giacomo Raggi agrees and covenants that he will furnish the said University with
ten Corinthian bases of Marble of Carrara of quality equal to that of the capitels lately
received from Thomas Appleton, and two Pilaster bases shewing each a front & flank with
returns of ten minutes at each angle where they are to ajoin the wall and in addition to the
said bases shall be the listel and cavetto, which are generally considered as part of the shaft
of the column, but here to be made solid with the base, that the said bases shall be
proportioned to a column of three English feet in diameter, to be modeled with the utmost
exactness according to the Bases of the Pantheon of Rome as drawn by Palladio in his book
of Architecture, to be dress, polished and finished in the best manner, each base to be of a
single and sound piece of Marble that they shall be packed singly in strong and sufficient
cases of wood, and delivered before the first day of June of the ensuing year on board of
some ship in the harbour of Leghorn bound to some port of the United States of North
America, or if there be none such at that time, then on the first which shall be there after that
date, clear of all cost & charges, save only the sums herein after Stipulated, the
transportation after being on ship board in the said harbour to be at the expence and risk of
the said University and the said Giacomo agrees that in the execution of the said agreement
he will be under the superintendance and direction of Thomas Appleton esquire of Leghorn
as acting for the University with all the rights and authority of the said Arthur S. were he
there in person.
And the said Arthur S Brockenbrough on behalf of the said University agrees & covenants,
that there shall be paid to the said Giacomo the sum of Sixty five dollars for each of the said
column bases and the sum of thirty two & one half dollars for each of the said pilaster bases
as follows, to wit one half of their prices from time to time during the progress of the work
in partial sums at the discretion of the said Thomas Appleton and the other half on their
delivery on ship board--or to Thomas Appleton if there by no ship in port on their arrival at
Leghorn bound as aforesaid deducting the transportation on ship board after the delivery to
said Appleton--
In witness whereof the said parties have here to subscribed their names at the said
University of Va. this eighth day of September One thousand eight hundred & twenty three.
Arthur S Brockenbrough (Seal)
Giacomo Raggi (Seal)
The words 'or to Thomas Appleton if there be no ship in port on their arrival at Leghorn
bound as aforesaind deducting the transportation on ship board after the delivery to said
Appleton' interlined before signed--
Witness--John Neilson
DS, in ASB's writing, ViU:PP, 2p, with docket "Contract G Raggi"; ADft, in TJ's writing,
ViU:PP, 1p [2028] with address and ASB docket "Copy of a contract by Mr Jefferson with
Raggi--"; printed, O'Neal, "Michele and Giacomo Raggi at the University of Virginia,"
Magazine of Albemarle County History, 18:29-30. The ADft is on the verso of a coversheet
addressed to Jefferson from James Madison that reads "Orange C H July 14. Mr. Jefferson
Monticello near Charlottesville, Va." Jefferson apparently saw the draft again along with
the copy of the agreement to be signed and other documents relating to Raggi, as indicated
by a separate note addressed to "Mr Brockenbrough" by Jefferson pertaining to the contract,
"Th: J. to mr Brockenbrough at the end of the 2d. paragraph, after the words 'the other half
at their delivery on ship board' interline 'but if on their arrival at Leghorn, there be no ship
in port bound as aforesd, the last half is to be paid on their delivery to the sd T. Appleton,
deducting the transportation on ship-board.'" At the bottom of this note Brockenbrough
added: "or to Thos Appleton if on their arrival at Leghorn there be no ship in port bound as
aforesaid deducting the transportation on ship board after the delivery to said Appleton."
Jefferson's one-page memorandum of this date about this agreement in DLC:TJ reads:
"heads of Raggis agreemt. for corinthian bases. Date Sep. 8. 23. he will furnish 10. Corinthn
bases, for columns of 3. f. of Carra marble of quality equal to that of the Capitels lately
furnd by Appleton. also 2. piaster half bases with front & flank. with listell & Cavetto, all
model of Pantheon of a single piece packed delivd. before June 1. on ship board. to be pd
65. D. for each whole, & 32.50 for each half base one half to be pd from time to time during
the progress of the work the other half on their delivy. on ship board."
