Honoured Sir!
It is my intention to present my Stage Festival Play, The Ring of the Nibelung, according to a plan which can only be realised on the one hand by a far-reaching co-operation of the friends of my art, and on the other by a corresponding participation of the talent which lies scattered in Germany for the execution of the technical part of the work. In regard to the scenic decorations I have come to the conclusion that nothing can be attained here, worthy of the German name in its best and noblest sense, if the required task is left to our regular theatre decorators. It is most important that we should be able to lay before the cleverest or most experienced decorative painters, sketches by genuine artists, in order that the former may be inspired to an idealising of their work.
I have already addressed myself to several artists (historical painters). My attention has recently been called to your unusual work, esteemed sir, which seems to approach very nearly my requirements. As a result of this, I feel justified in making the request that you will consider it worth your while to acquaint yourself with my poem, The Ring of the Nibelung, to such an extent that it would be easy for you to draw such sketches of the chief scenes, as well as the setting of the same and the characterisation of the dramatic figures, as would serve either you yourself (provided you would consent to assume this task) as a model for future working out, or could be turned over to such decorative painters and costumiers as would then have to be chosen.
For the present it is sufficient to have called your attention in general to the matter, and as soon as you give me the pleasure of hearing from you I hope to find an opportunity of coming to an agreement as to further details with you personally.
The first thing is to thank you for the gratifying assurances on your part which were conveyed to me by Herr Scharf, and I remain until later
Yours very faithfully,
Richard Wagner.
Source: The Story of Bayreuth as Told in the Bayreuth Letters of Richard Wagner, trans. and ed. Caroline V. Kerr (Small, Maynard and Company, 1912), No. 33