Dante Gabriel Rossetti letter to William Houghton Clabburn, 1863? June 15

"My Dear Mr. Clabburn,

Thanks for your letter. On taking exact measurements, I find that the photograph is 12 inches by 10 1/2. The plan therefore will be to enlarge it to double its size, making 24 by 21. Two feet square would not therefore be a possible size or exact proportion and any fractional adaption of the measurements would cause more than double trouble in squaring it off. Still, it is not improbable that I might be adding somewhat all round to the composition, in which case it might be rather over 2 feet in height and nearly or quite 2 feet in width, but I could not be certain to an inch, nor would this, as I dare say you will think with me, materially affect the matter. If again I were to adopt measurements on a sufficiently increased scale to reach again a convenient proportion for the squaring off, the picture would reach a larger size than I could paint for 200 guineas.

I would engage to make the 3rd picture (if made at all) decidedly smaller than yours, but could not at this moment be positive as to size. Still, as the proportional measurement would have again to be of the degree adapted for squaring off, you may be sure, as I say, that the difference would be decided.

I should be very happy to let you hear the refusal of the 3rd picture proposed. Its price would certainly not be less than 200 guineas, almost certainly more, as I anticipate that the importance of the large work, which done will greatly increase the value of any duplicate or work from the same design.

I am, dear Mr. Clabburn, Yours very truly, DG Rossetti"