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New York 22, New York

December 30, 1959

Dear Miss Cieslak:

As I believe I wrote to you yesterday, in view of the doubt you had expressed - and how correct it was - about the pedigree of one of my two paintings by Gustave Moreau, I communicated with its previous owner in France. I have just heard from him and as you surmised, we can reasonably assume that the painting was in the Panckoucke Collection and thus #100 of the exhibition prior to its reaching the one of Mr. Benoville.

It is purposely that I am writing in this rather vague manner for though the rectified pedigree, as it now stands, seems logical, I realize that my French correspondent does not dare make a definite statement in view of the elapsed time and the difficulty he encounters on that account. However, let me tell you that I indeed appreciate your having called my attention to this glaring error.

It is rather pitiful to read of the difficulties you encountered when you worked on your problems at the Gustave Moreau Museum. May I inquire in this connection whether you intend going back to Paris next spring for the same purpose. Not that I could disrupt a well established routine but some friends here or there might possibly have enough pull to stir up such a sleepy and dusty organization. If I am mentioning next spring it is because I expect to be in Paris, in part at least, during May and June.

With renewed good wishes for the success of your undertaking,

Yours very sincerely,

Germain Seligman

Miss Judith Cieslak
5532 S. Kimbark
Chicago 37, Illinois

^[[Cieslak]]
^[[TP]]

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