Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1896

This is a letter written by Vittorio Pica to Philip Zilcken, penned in Italian on January 21st, 1896. Pica was an influential art critic of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Letters like this offer an intimate glimpse into the cultural networks of the Belle Époque. Pica, writing from Naples, connects with Zilcken, likely a fellow critic or art world figure. In this note, Pica expresses gratitude for an offer, mentions travel plans, and anticipates receiving portraits. Such correspondence illuminates the workings of the art world – the exchanges of ideas, the cultivation of relationships, and the subtle power dynamics that shape artistic reputations. By studying these documents, we begin to understand how critics like Pica helped construct the canon and influence public taste. The social historian of art views this letter not just as a personal message, but as a primary source that reveals the intricate web of connections that defined the art world of its time. Catalogues, reviews, and other archival material help us reconstruct this world and interpret the meaning of art within its specific social and institutional context.