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We have not only to think of the painters who were active at the court of Rudolph II in Prague.  I know of two versions of a large allegorical composition, a kind of “Glorification of the Arts,” which is certainly of French origin:  one is in the Museum of Grenoble, the other variant in a private collection in Caracas, Venezuela.  In the second painting, the king who witnesses the activity of his artists, can be identified as Henry IV, King of France.  In the Grenoble painting, on the other hand, a banner with the double headed eagle and the coat of arms of the House of Austria is inserted.  Evidently, the artist used his composition for two different purposes, for two different monarchs who were contemporaries, Rudolph II (1576-1612) and Henry IV (1589-1610).

The painting of the Grenoble Museum is reproduced in “Général de Beylié: Le Musée de Grenoble, Paris, 1909, on planche 32.”  It will certainly be possible for you to get a better and larger photograph.  I am going to write to a friend of mine in Caracas and do my best to get a better photograph of the other version.

I hope to give you more information before long.

With best wishes for 1954 and kindest regards,

Very sincerely yours,

^[[William Suida]]