Dearest,
Besides letter-writing I had assigned this lovely Sunday morning to preparation and self-collection for my work: so I was just stealing down into myself, when the Murillo arrived. Again you have made a famous selection! This pure ascending being shall be a fair omen to me! Heinrich had to help hang it up at once; a magic radiance rains upon me from the wall.
Best and warmest thanks! — You dear, good, faithful benefactors!
Your
R. W.
Source: Richard Wagner's Letters to Wesendonck et al., trans. and indexed by William Ashton Ellis (Grant Richards, 1899), No. 14