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October 2, 1958

Dear Guy,

Remembering our conversation of a little while ago, I was impressed this summer, going over some of the magazines I had taken along on my vacation, with an article that appeared in the Gazetteddes Beaux-Arts, Mai-juin, 1956.  In fact, this issue only appeared this year in spite of its date. 

There is a particular passage I would like to call to your attention in the chapter "Looking at French Eighteenth Century Pictures in Washington" by Lewis Einstein.  It reads as follows: "....Fragonard, when in Rome, was frankly bored by its ruins, and he left these to be depicted by his fellow pupil and intimate friend, Hubert Robert.  Fragonard has painted an interesting portrait of this artist that is in the Gallery.  As in his other portraits, he imparts his own gay vivacity and animation to this fine picture in which the eyes, mouth, and even the nose of his sitter seem to have something to say.  He conveys an impression of life to the features of his friend whose talent, unlike his own, showed itself principally in depicting the mellow serenity of dead ruins...."

We are all aware that editors of magazines do not consider themselves responsible for the articles they publish, but nevertheless in view of what we know it seems strange that such laudatory comments should have been accepted.... It is true that the painting is not reproduced when so many mentioned are.  Whether it was submitted to be included and held back, we probably will never learn.

You will understand I am sure the spirit that prompts me to write you in this vein,and with best regards,

Sincerely yours,

Germain Seligman 

Mr. Guy Emerson
Samuel H. Kress Foundation
221 West 57th Street
New York 19, New York

^[[GS]]