Richard Hudson wrote to me recently to share drawings and paintings his great-great-great aunt Maria Hudson (1819 – 1906) created while she was staying in Bagni di Lucca in July 1839. She was travelling in France and Italy with her parents.
Richard has taken photos of the art in the sketch book of his aunt and has kindly allowed me to share them. He would love to know more about the locations.
The first sketch shows Bagni Caldi at the top with another spa below.
The others show Ponte a Serraglio and La Villa. The church is clear in the sketch and I can see my building beside the bridge and, I think, the casino, which would have been just a few years old.
In the first painting on the bottom left is a hotel called Gran Hotel du Pelican. Does anyone know something about that?
I think these impressions of Bagni di Lucca are wonderful. I am delighted that Richard shared them. Please send any ideas you have about them.
Bella Bagni di Lucca 
These are wonderful Debra. Thanks for sharing. The first one has Bagni Caldi at the top, then Docce Basse spa and then the roof of The Globale Village (Demidoif). The building bottom left would be the big villa by the Camione which was restored 15 years ago but they never got to build the access across a bridge to the granaiola road.. Never heard of Gran hotel du Pelican but it probably was this one. (Abit low down to be Villa Rosalena which I think would have been being built in 1839!) One of very many hotels in the middle 1800s
There is a comment on the Community Facebook page suggesting that the Flamingo is now the Regina in La Villa. I think that might be correct.
it is fascinating to look at Bagni di Lucca in 1839!
Wow wonderful works! Maria Hudson captured Bagni di Lucca better than any photograph could.
I love them! How wonderful to see Bagni di Lucca in 1839.
Very interesting, lovely and obviously historical. Reminds me of some early photos and sketches of my beloved nearby Colognora. Thanks for sharing.
They are amazing! It is interesting to see how the villages looked in 1839.
Hello Debra,
thanks for posting this, it is very interesting.
You might be interested in viewing my collection of old Bagni di Lucca postcards which can be accessed at this link:
https://1drv.ms/f/c/1b31e0ffee1824fd/IgBLCABiJweNR6ib05KWHgxnAdei0I6Fg-ec2zzSAQVPsCI?e=yWbsGO
Please let me know what you think! (I hope the link works)
Best wishes,
Remo Nannetti
I can’t open the files unfortunately.
I have a book of postcards of Bagni di Lucca. Are these the same?
I will be back in Bagni di Lucca on 17th September. Perhaps I could see them then.
Hello Debra,
sorry about the non-functioning link, try this one:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JcFlYW0J5pbUpVmP834uJsunu4c2DdqE?usp=sharing
Best wishes,
Remo Nannetti