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Transcribe page 31 of 54
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Download PDF for AAA-jacqself00031-000178 (project ID 11303)
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Transcription
October 17, 1950 Dear Mr. Berenson: How very pleasant it was to receive your letter of October1, and to have your good news. You were about to leave Vallambrosa and assume that by now you are back in no less delightful Tatti surrounded with your art reasures and your precious library. As per your desire I am enclosing herein a photograph of my large Bellini portrait. However, as I wrote you previously I intend having it cleaned as some of the repaints which were evidently carried out a good many years ago distress me. If and when this is done may I count upon you to destroy this present print. Years ago when I approached you in connection with this portrait, which you know well, you were good enough to indicate a pedigree which did not seem to correspond fully with the one which had been given me, nor with the files of Lionello Venturi who, as soon as he saw the painting, told me he remembered having seen it in Russia. Thus, should you have a little time would it be possible for you to reestablish a more complete pedigree. The one you indicated was namely Lorenz, Zurich. The one I put together piecemeal was, Rethel (an artist) who bought it in Paris from Baron Treusch von Buttlar, a Russian who had inherited it from his father who lived in Moscow, Mandel, Russia and then Lorenz. These two probably complement each other. The chronological order, however, is unknown to me. My two books went off to you several weeks ago and ere long should reach you I hope, as they went by ship. From Europe, on the other hand, I have had hectic correspondence about the different photographs I have ordered and have not any yet of the several paintings I promised you. My wife is most anxious to be remembered to Miss Mariano and to you, and asking you to be so good as to convey my respects to Miss Mariano, with personal regards, Sincerely yours, (Germain Seligman) Bernard Berenson, Esq. I Tatti Settignano Florence Italy P.S. The photograph I am sending you is quite pale and leaves out a good deal of modelling. However, a darker print I had made in order to cope with this discrepancy then does not show the pleating of the gown and overshadows the treatment of the hair. Should the enclosed one not be satisfactory to you I would send you also a darker print. ^[[GS]]
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