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January 25, 1952

My dear Dr. Clowes:

Do have my thanks for your kind note of January 24, and I do hope that in the not too distant future I shall have the privilege of showing you the South German miniature, should I still have it.

My book has a double title which is "Oh Fickle Taste" and "Objectivity in Art", The first one might give you an inkling into the subject of this publication, and let me tell you that there is no commercial consideration involved.  

It tends essentially to show the evolution of taste and the cycles thus created, though one of my claims is that the evolution of taste is to a certain extent caused by economic factors. In the course of my book I lay particular stress on the increase in prices as a resultant of a new trend of taste, and the decline of these very paintings when, after a period of years, prices have climbed to a certain height.

My desire for reproducing your lovely portrait by Corneille de Lyon is to incorporate it, as one of the best examples I know of in this country, in a chapter on the French Renaissance, which is in my opinion one of the very much neglected periods at present, and concurrently with your portrait I shall reproduce the portrait by Clouet of the Toledo Museum, from whom I have already received permission to do so, as well as other monumental works such as the Jean Goujon "Diana" from the Chateau d'Anet at the Louvre.

To reassure you further, should it truly be necessary, let me say that Mr. Rene Huyghe, the former Conservateur en Chef of paintings at the Louvre Museum and now a professor at the College de France, has honored me by writing a preface for this book.

Looking forward to hearing from you further,

Yours very sincerely,

(Germain Seligman)

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Dr. G.H.A. Clowes
The Lilly Research Laboratories
Eli Lilly and Company
Indianapolis 6, Indiana