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2.

I could not talk to Matsch again as he was in heavy conference, so told his wife, who will tell him what happened.

Again, yesterday I called at the Palais Wittgenstein, and had to return later as the Direktor was away until 3 p.m. I was very pleasantly received by him at 3, and found among other things that the collection was (before the war) largely made up of German and Austrian contemporary artists who were "patronized" by the elder W. That on his death, and the death of all the surviving children with the exception of one son, (a pianist with one arm, who lives in New York, and has had compositions written for him for the left hand by leading composers) the pictures were largely scattered among neices and nephews) BUT that there are a number in storage. He will look up the names in a catalogue or inventory, and advise me in Paris whether there are any French impressionists left. No old masters in the collection. Dr. Lichtenegger at the Palais at 16 16 Argentinianstrasse, is the administrator of the Estate and he seemed interested in selling. I assured him that German-Austrian paintings had no market in America but that Fr. Impressionists would be of considerable interest.

I called Dr. Blaschko, administrator of the Schwarzenberg Est. and to my regret found he could speak no English or French. Later I went to his office at 2 Rennwegg, part of the old palace, only to find the door locked and no one to give me any information. I took with me Mrs. Matsch who has a reasonable German vocabulary. So the Antonello matter could not be discussed.

The Albertina is closed completely. No one answers the phone and the doorman said no one in during repairs. The library and the graphic sections equally closed. This was especially exasperating as I know your interest in getting information re same. Benesch is away from Vienna. I will try to get Dr. Spitzmuhler and Mrs Frolich.

The Galerie St. Lucas (Dr. Robt. Hertzig) is still the leading dealer and there Hertzig told me many extraordinary things. Said he would have the Drawings from Feilchenfeld..(the L. dwgs) soon, that all of the early ones had been sold, that he would have 17 and 18th cent. remainder; that he has sold pictures from the collection: that the Ottawa group were sold by Agnew, but perhaps without financial benefit to them, that they had been in Vaduz and negotiated the sale, and THAT SELIGMANN & CO and a man named Cunningham (probably Charles C. of the Hartford Museum!!!!) and bought several sculptures and that they had been bought by the KRESS Fdtn!!!! I broke down and said it was not Charles C. but that I had had something to do with it and how did he know all of this??? He said, Oh, I heard that Kress had bought them five or six months ago. Said if I wanted any of the drawings, he could probably get them for me cheaper than I could buy them direct. (It may be that HE can buy the bronze where we are stymied in dealing with Wilhelm ....what do you think?) I didnt mention them of course.  He had very few pictures of any importance but finally produced a possible, (unauthenticated yet,) Perugino. He asked who he should get to expertise it. I suggested Valentiner. He was very grateful, said all the men in Europe were getting old or are less recognized than before, Fiocco, etc. Is going to write me with photo, when he hears from Wm. V.  No price in mind until he gets a real decision that it is genuine and not school. Realizes it has little value without a good authority back of it. Says absolutely no French pictures available in Austria.