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April 7th., 1942.

Dear Mr. Arensberg:

After leaving you I stopped off in San Francisco, Portland, Minneapolis and Chicago, and a couple of days ago finally reached our great city.  Though Spring is here the sun doesn't shine as brightly as in Los Angeles and if I don't miss it, I do long for some of the charming moments I spent in L. A., particularly with you and Mrs. Arensberg.  I do want to thank you again for all your kindnesses and particularly for giving so freely of your time.

Herein you will find the photograph of the very sensitive "Nude" by Modigliani.  Were it not you, I wouldn't send this photograph, as it is so very hard and doesn't indicate the very delicate modelling of the torso and the face.  The pillow is yellow; the upper background as well as the left lower part, is brownish red; the lower center part of the background is black.

The price we have had right along on the painting is $15,000.  However I realize that in these present days it is probably a high figure and that I must be ready to make concessions - and I would willingly do this particularly in order to have it go into your collection.  Therefore, after this preamble, I will leave it to you to tell me in all frankness - as you did with the Picasso - should you wish to acquire it, what you would be willing to spend for it and I, in the same vein, would answer you by a "yes" or "no".  I have the feeling that on such matters you and I understand each other perfectly.

I have always, like so many others, considered this painting as the "chef d'oeuvre" by Modigliani and as I think I told you, I probably paid the record price brought by this artist.  This is neither here nor there, I realize, except that it is an indication of how highly I think of it.  That this is also the opinion of others is shown by the fact that it has been exhibited in Chicago, Brussels, Basle, Museum of Modern Art of New York and in Portland, etc.

You will also find herewith, photographs of two important pastels by REDON which are, of course, my property.  In my mind these pictures are perfect examples as they combine the characteristic subjects in the

t.s.v.p...........