Viewing page 41 of 54

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

February 17th, 1951

Dear Mr. Berenson:

Do accept my very best thanks for your so kind and interesting letter of February 4th., and I am pleased to know that a painting I discovered should have helped you obtain a better opinion of Francesco di Vannuccio.

A couple of days ago I spent a most pleasant evening reading about the Macchiavelian Zanobi, and after having read your article I turned back to the first page to see whether the name of artist was between quotations. It would have been too good to be true, and I found further confirmation of his existence in your Italian pictures of the Renaissance so that I am wondering now whether a genealogical tree would allow on to link Zanobi with the author of "The Prince" and perhaps whether the spirit of deceit and misrepresentation was a family trait of which Zanobi would have been the instigator, but of course I am looking at this mischievous artist with the eyes of a 20th century art lover who can hardly forgive him for having further confused the many existing problems of authentification.........

I was so very pleased to read your comments about my drawing by Sebastiano del Piombo. In the meantime it had been bought by John S. Newberry, Jr. of Detroit whom you certainly know, and when I received your letter a few days ago I conveyed to him your flattering remarks. This however had the disturbing result that Mr. Newberry asked me to let him have if possible your original letter which of course I cannot do. 

I do not know whether you would wish to oblige Mr. Newberry to the extent of sending him directly a few lines. You probably know he is a wealthy young man collecting drawings, and on the staff of the Detroit Institute of Arts, but should you consider this as an imposition which I would readily understand I will just explain to him that in view of other topics mentioned in your letter I cannot send it on to him. 

The matter as a whole is of little importance as Mr. Newberry purchased this drawing from me for $200., but you know well the flattering character of and the importance in which the world holds an autograph from you, hence my writing you in this vein, which I do hope you will not mind. 

My wife has been greatly touched by your warm greeting which

t.s.v.p.

^[[GS]]