INGRES JEAN-AUGUSTE-DOMINIQUE: (1780-1867) French Neoclassical Painter. Autograph statement by Ingres, signed `J. Ingres´, two pages, 12mo, n.p., n.d., to Monsieur Capelet, in French. To a page removed from an autograph album, four personalities have written in their hand four short statements, two the front and two to the verso. To the front page Ingres cleanly and boldly writes `Je m´honore de partager les voeux philantropiques de Mr. Capelet. J´applaudis au zele qu´il montre pour le bien de l´humanité, et puisqu´on dit que les arts descendent du ciel pour adoucir les moeurs des hommes et les rendre meilleurs, je voudrais les voir mettre au nombre des premiers enseignements, et qu´enfin les hommes apprissent a dessiner en meme temps qu´a lire et a écrire´ (''I am honoured to share the philanthropic wishes of Mr. Capelet. I applaud the zeal he shows for the good of humanity, and since it is said that the arts come down from heaven to soften the morals of men and make them better, I would like to see the arts put among the first teachings, and that finally men learn to draw at the same time as to read and write'') Accompanied by a 2.5 x 4 cabinet visiting-card of Ingres, unsigned, the Desmaisons image, from Paris, showing Ingres in a half-length pose. To the front page also and above Ingres´ statement, a short statement by Giuseppe Casparo Mezzofanti (1774-1849) Italian Cardinal and Linguist, considered the major polyglot in history, speaking fluently 48 different languages. Mezzofanti states `Quand la religion t´anime d´un esprit noble et magnanime, tu soulages l´humanité´ (''When religion animates you with a noble and magnanimous spirit, you relieve humanity'') To the verso bearing an autograph statement by Xavier Sigalon (1787-1837) French Painter, a leader of the romantic movement. VG