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May 26th., 1939.

Dear Harold:

I duly received your two letters of May 22nd., and May 23rd., and am glad not only to have read of your "pledge" about the Bellini portrait, but also to have had good news from you and to learn that I shall see you in a few days.

As your request I am sending you a photograph of the portrait. As you will notice, it is an enlargement and I hope you will like it. I am sending one also to Paul, as you suggest.

Now, as to your question who the various critics are who, in writing, have attributed the painting to Bellini, I can cite Leonello Venturi and W. R. Valentiner, from whom I have written statements. I am sending you herein, photostats of their opinions. You, on the other hand, have Berenson's - which of course is the most important.

According to information which was given me, it was in the following collections: Mandel, Russia, and Lorenz, Zurich. However I think that I recall that when you showed me B.B.'s letter in which he gave you his opinion about the Bellini, he gave you a much fuller pedigree than the one I have. Anyway, that is a detail.

As you also know, this portrait was exhibited in the "Exhibitition of Venetian Paintings from the XVth. Century through the XVIIIth. Century" At the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, in 1938, under No. 8, and was reproduced in the catalogue.

Trusting I have thus given you the data you need and looking forward to seeing you soon, I am, 

Your most sincerely,

(Germain Seligmann)

Harold W. Parsons, Esq.,
345 Marlborough St.,
Boston, Mass.

P.S. The photograph and photostats are being mailed under separate cover. 
G.S. 

Transcription Notes:
The name Valentiner appears to have a grave accent mark over the first a. Seligmann has a acute mark over the e.