Dear Sir,
Since a performance of my stage festival: the Ring of the Nibelung, is feasible in practical terms only with support from many quarters, it is my intention to entrust its planned realization in technical matters, too, to a correspondingly varied personnel scattered throughout Germany. With regard to the stage presentation, I have come to the conclusion that nothing worthy of the name of Germany - in the noblest sense of the word - can be achieved here if the relevant work is simply left to our routine theatrical scene painters. It is a question, rather, of my being able to submit designs by genuine artists to the most skilled or experienced scene painters in order to inspire the latter to produce of their best. With this in mind I have already addressed myself to a number of artists (historical painters). But my particular attention has recently been drawn to your own especial achievements, my dear Sir, the character of which appears to be very close to what I am wanting. Accordingly, what I make so bold as to ask of you now is that you might initially consider it worth your while to acquaint yourself with my poem: the Ring of the Nibelung to the extent of its becoming sufficiently familiar for you to prepare sketches of the principal scenes both as regards the setting of the action and the shape of the dramatis personae, so that these sketches might serve as a model for further elaboration either for you yourself, should you wish to do so, or for such scene painters & costumiers as are still to be chosen.
For the time being it is sufficient for me to have drawn your attention to this matter in general terms, but as soon as you give me the pleasure of more detailed information, I shall at once find an opportunity of coming to an arrangement with you personally on all additional matters.
In the meantime, may I thank you very much for the gratifying asseverations on your part which were conveyed to me by Herr Scharff, and assure you that I have the honour to be
Your respectfully devoted servant
Richard Wagner.
Source: Selected Letters of Richard Wagner, trans. and ed. Stewart Spencer and Barry Millington (W. W. Norton & Company, 1988), No. 410