Jean-Dominique INGRES (1780-1867). L.A.S., [Paris] January 7, 1843, to Ambroise Thomas, "composer of music"; 1page in-8, address (ink corrosion on one line crossed out; letter mounted on cardboard). Literary and musical meetings. [Ambroise Thomas had become friends with Ingres during his stay at the Villa Medici]. "Every first Tuesday of the month we gather at Mr Defresne's [Adolphe-Marcellin Defresne (1793-1869) secretary general of the Seine] a dozen friends, artists, men of letters Doctors - we dine there, we talk there, there is a piano and sometimes music, Benoit [composer and organist François Benoist (1794-1878)] being one but he has retired. We need a musician, and Varcollier, myself and everyone else, have asked me to offer you, with complete freedom to accept or not, to be one of us"...