Bach, Johann Carl (1737-after 1817, son of Georg Michael Bach)

written in the manner of an extensive diary entry, to his brother in Magdeburg, providing a new and apparently unpublished description of Catherine the Great, the German-born Tsarina of Russia and also containing new biographical information about this interesting and enigmatic member of the wider Bach family, also with a postscript written to his sister-in-law,  2 very closely-written pages, large 4to, begun at St Petersburg, continued at Tsarkoe Selo, between 16/27 November 1772 and 21 December 1772/1 January 1773, splitting to folds, one split c.9cm in length, a few minute holes, very slightly affecting text in a few places 



A long and wide-ranging letter in which the writer reveals his activities of the recent months and his travels, he follows up on his last "epistle" written from Lübeck, gives details of his travels from there via Kronstadt, supplying geographical detail ("...Dies ist eine Insel..5 Meile von Petrb: am Ausfluss des Newastrohms, an welchem Peterb: liegt..."), informs him of the large amount of things to tell him, describes in general terms the journey by sea, evidently his first major crossing, for which no one can prepare you, gives details of the rascally captain, the unpleasant conditions on board, the seedy living conditions



...Meine Abreise aus Lübeck was zu schleunig als dass dies hätte geschehen können... Ich würde unmögl. haben schlafen können wenn ich nicht durch die 10 tägige Reise zu Lande an ein elendes Lager wäre gewöhnt werden. Zum Glück war die Witterung sehr gelinde sonst wäre ich gewiss die Nacht hiedurch halb verfrohren. Die meiste Zeit habe ich schönes Wetter u[nd] Sonneschein gehabt ohne Sturm, einen Tag war der Wind so gelinde dass die See so glatt als ein Spiegel war und das Schiff sich nicht viel von der Stelle bewagte, sondern nur hin u[nd] her schwankte...D.29te Oct fuhr ich von Crohnst: mit einer Chaloupe auf die Newa nach Peterb: es ist dies eine prächtige u[nd] zieml: vollreiche Stadt, die meisten Häuser sind vom Stein u[nd] regulair gebauet

He describes the other passengers on board, including a man from Cassell named Huberti, and gives details of other characters he has encountered, expounds on his health and seasickness, informs him of his arrival at Kronstadt and his journey along the Neva to St Petersburg; he gives his initial impressions of the city and of the works instigated by Catherine the Great to improve, embellish and rebuild the city, he describes the work done on the royal palace and in the churches alongside the river and relays Herr Huberti's view that the city exceeds in beauty Dresden, Berlin, Hannover and Stuttgart; he contrasts the beauty of the city with the poverty only three miles from it; he gives his view on his present home at Tsarskoe Selo and the gardens of the royal palace. Bach is working as a tutor in the family of the Gardenmaster, where there are four daughters and three sons, he gives details of the family, most of whom speak only a little German, explains his plans for them, gives details of his bed, board and duties:

...die älteste Tochter ist 21 Jahr und das jüngste Kind 8 Jahr der Vater ist ein Schweizer u[nd] spricht gut teutsch, hingegen die Mutter u[nd] Kinder alle englisch [sind]...ich soll ihnen daher erst teutsch Christenthum u[nd] auch franz: lernen, also have ich sie von den ältesten bis jüngsten zu unterrüchten, dies wird mir ein gut Stück Arbeit lassen...



He gives a long description of Catherine the Great and a very positive account of her works, including some anecdotes of her ("...Sie is mir von allem als die rechtschaffenste u[nd] beste Monarchin beschrieben. welches auch aus ihren Handlungen erhaltet. Sie lebt müthig, ist sehr gerecht, geht auch mit der geringsten gnädig u[nd] liebreich um, nicht stolz..."), and in a postscript, he adds a note to his sister-in-law, presumably also in Magdeburg.

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This is an exceptional and important letter. J.C.Bach, not to be confused with the London or Milan Bach (1735-1782), was born and bred in Halle. This letter reveals many new things about his life, including his travels, the existence of a brother and his wife. But the letter is not important only for Bach studies: Bach provides a tremendous description of sea travel in the eighteenth century (by no means a common occurrence - one recalls Leopold Mozart's memorably wry description of crossing the Channel in 1764), and a most interesting account of life in Russia, including unpublished reminiscences of Catherine the Great. The discovery of Russia by travellers and artists from the West was a signal and important feature of the latter half of the eighteenth century and laid the seeds for the great artistic expansion of Russia in the following century.