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112 EAST 54th STREET
NEW YORK 22 NEW YORK

March 12th., 1955

Dear Betti: ^[[(Mrs. Franz von Matsch) - Vienna]]

You will recall, I am sure, the discussions which I have had with members of your family, in regard to the life-size bronze of St. Sebastian by de Vries, one of two bronzes of that size and by that sculptor, now according to reports of a reliable nature, in the basement of one of the "great houses" in Vienna.

From time to time, efforts have been made by me, through Hans among other intermediaries, to (a) get the owner to say that he would part with the St. Sebastian, and (b) to name a price.  Even quite recently, he has used as an excuse for not giving an answer [[underline]] to some one you know [[/underline]], that he has been "selling so much recently to Canada that he doesnt intend to sell the bronze."  On another occasion, he said that he has a "great sentiment" for the bronze, but this is a little hard to take considering how much^[[(?)]] sentiment he has attached to selling some of the great pictures to Ottawa.

It would be natural and sensible to assume that he means what he says and to relax and wait until a more propitious time before again taking up the question with the owner or with his curator at his schloss outside Austria.  But, experience has taught me one or two rather sad lessons in this respect, for only last year, after taking an owner's word that under no circumstances would a great picture leave his walls, the picture was sold (and, I may add for less than my client would have paid!) and is now in an American Museum.  Therefore, I dont want this to happen in the case of the bronze!  It is true, not many people want....(a) sculpture (b) over-life-size bronzes, (c) Saints being martyred! (d) bronzes of this particular era, etc., etc.  I just happen to have a client who wants a St. Sebastian, large enough for a church, by a good sculptor and in bronze, And of course [[underline]] not [[/underline]] by a modern sculptor.....or I'd commission you to do it!  This Adriaan de Vries is exactly what is required.

The long-time connections of the Matsch family with the family of the owner, through the wine –champagne interests, in addition to the agreeable social relationship that has always existed between the two families made the approach through Hans seem a most reasonable one.  That he was discouraged by the rather summary reply by Dr. Wilhelm, the curator, is understandable, but that was in October, 1954 and much has happened since then with that collection.  Therefore, I feel that another attempt and without loss of further time, is very much in order.

First of all, Betti, you are on the ground and I would like to have your ideas....you know....woman's intuition, plus that never-take-no-for-an-answer Richard quality.  Do you think, for instance, that you could (or should) try to penetrate into that basement room to see the bronzes, "as a sculptor greatly interested" in all sculpture?  Do you think that you could, or might or [[underline]] should [[/underline]] go to Vaduz, there to visit a wonderful place you haven't seen, and become acquainted with Dr. Wilhelm.....and explore the possibilities from then on?  ^[[Hans]] wrote, evidently as an Architect, and acting for a client (in Austria) whose patron saint is St. Sebastian.  It would [[underline]] never do [[/underline]] to be acting for [[underline]] me [[/underline]], as I've tried and failed to gain Dr. W.'s enthusiastic support in my quest.  I would not wish you to be at any expense, were you to go to Vaduz on this mission, as obviously you would be going on my account. In my letter to Franz, I told him I would ask you to seek his advice, for indeed, it would be [[underline]] invaluable. [[/underline]]  Does this matter appeal to you....as a sporting, (business) proposition?  It might lead to others, too.

With kindest regards to you both, Sincerely,