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[[handwritten]]Copy for E[[?]] S.[[/handwritten]] REGENT 7-9880 JOHN J. CUNNINGHAM 111 EAST SIXTY-FIFTH STREET NEW YORK 21, NEW YORK October 12th., 1960 Dear Doctor Mendel: During your stay in Madrid, would you be so kind as to carry out a mission for me? I will explain the errand and believe that you will agree that is is an agreeable visit to which I am proposing. In the past few months, I have had the pleasure of writing to the eminent Director of the Prado Museum, Sr. Dr. Francisco Javier Sanchez Canton, and of sending him photographs and a color transparency of a very important Spanish painting, "DESCENT FROM THE CROSS" attributed to Bermejo, a work of circa 1460, and which Doctor Sanchez Canton was kind enough to say"would be a valuable acquisition for the Museum of Prado". I had planned to be in Spain in October or November, but I may have to postpone my visit [[crossed out]]to Madrid.[[/crossed out]] For that reason, I am asking you, as an old friend, to ask for an appointment and to chat with the Director with especial emphasis on the fact [[underlined]]that I still continue to hope that the painting may find its way into the collection.[[/underlined]] Perhaps in the discussion, the distinguished Director may suggest a method similar to the one I wrote to him about, namely, an exchange of this painting for a painting by [[underlined]]an artist well represented[[/underlined]] in their magnificent collection. [[underlined]]The rarity of paintings by BERMEJO is well understood[[/underlined]] and would make such an exchange a very reasonable matter except for the present policy which discourages such an exchange. Perhaps the Museo del Prado has a patron who would buy the painting and present it as a memorial or other type of gift It is my thought that in personal talk, the matter could be explored with perhaps, a fortunate solution evolving. I may add that I have proposed to the Director, that the owner of the painting is much interested in early sculpture....of which there is no shortage in Spain.....but I need not say that is would necessarily be the same high standard of artistic merit. You will understand from the above words that I am hopeful that a way may be found to have this great painting included in Prado Collections, and I am sure that you will be more eloquent on my behalf than I can be, for I have not your command of Spanish. Do let me know whether you will undertake my mission and accept my thanks in anticipation. Sincerely yours, John J. Cunningham Dr. Bernardo Mendel, Palace Hotel, Madrid.
