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we were ushered into that stupendous hall with the frescoes of Tiepolo, the Anthony and Cleopatra series. You will recall that the room goes up through two floors and is immensely high. Bestigue had hung eight crystal chandeliers at various levels,so that the frescoes were perfectly lighted in all their parts; and the whole hall had a lightness and airy quality quite indescribable. The floor was covered with something I had never seen before, evidently a great rarity: a huge Venetian rug of the XVIII Century. In rose,yellow and light blue,with immense scrolls and floral patterns in free and bold design, it was a perfect foil for the famous frescoes. One of the most beautiful rooms I ever saw. So this splendid palace has once more come to life.

A few days ago, a plaque was unveiled in the Treasury of Saint Marks,to commemorate the work of Mrs. Truxtun Beale of Washington,of Marjorie Phillips and of John Nicholas Brown,and the Pro—San Marco Society,for the vast funds which they have secured over the past five years for the reconstruction of Saint Marks. The piers and domes are now secure;but the work must go on for some years. The Ambassador made a very moving little address,as did Mrs.Beale and the Director of the works. The Roberts had also come up from Rome for the occasion and that evening Mrs. Beale gave a dinner for forty on the roof terrace of the new part of the Danieli. It was all very pleasant.

Now that the weather has turned cooler, I am prowling about much more and revisiting the Biennale. But I find so little that is really creative in contemporary expression,or lamentably slight when it is in any way a new or vital expression;the preponderant output seems to be a rehash of certain formulas of half a dozen genuises of the first half of the Twentieth and endless variations on their themes. The Mexican pavilion and the British,with its fabulous Constables,were really something to wonder at; and here and there one saw an exciting and very original handling of many forms of subject matter. But, by and large, I thought it the least interesting Biennale I had ever seen. The Rico Lebrun's seemed to me among the most original and competent works in any section; and I wondered whether some dealer would not take in hand the very neat work of that Dutch or Flemish painter,Henecke,if that is the way his name is spelt, even though his art is obviously founded on the meticulous still-life style of the Dutch and Flemish masters; a really neat painter.

You have undoubtedly seen the August 14th copy of Life,with its article on what certain museums have bought during the past year. The Santa Barbara looms large;but Larry writes me that the Mallons were very much upset that the august Hammurabi should have been put on the floor alongside a number of Mexican pieces. But Ethlyne will tell you how hard it is to please all who frequent museums .

When are you off for America? Let me know if there are any services I can do for you before I leave Europe. We will discuss many things when I am back in America. I am certain that any of BRass's things could be had on reasonable conditions. My best wishes to you both.

Sincerely,
[[signed]] Harold [[/signed]]

[[underline]]^[[Harold W.Parson-]][[/underline]]