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September 25, 1962

Dear Dr.Conger:

Your letter of September 20th, in which you are asking for my suggestion as to who might identify your Spanish still-life, is difficult indeed to answer.

The closer I study Spanish paintings, the more I realize what a difficult field it is, for comparatively few scholars have concentrated on these problems and, as it would be, quite often they do not agree among themselves.

However, the best authority in our country is :

Miss Elizabeth du Gué Trapier
Hispanic Society of America
Broadway and 155th Str.
New York City, N.Y.

at the head of the Hispanic Society, who, as you no doubt know, has published a number of books on artists in Spain.

I can well see the reasons you have for thinking of Pereda in connection with your painting of which I am returning herein the colored photograph you were good enough to forward, but I am no authority on this subject.

It just so happens that, while in Paris a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity of seeing two still-lives which at first, I thought, could be attributed to Pereda, but I was told by the owner, that for very good reasons, they consider them to be by Fieravino (Francesco), called il Maltese, born in Malta (date unknown), who was active in Rome around 1640. By this, I do not imply that your canvas should be by the latter, but it might open another field for your research.

It was pleasant to read that you remembered the painting by Solimena, which my firm lent to the Akron Museum a little while ago. You are inquiring as to [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] its price which is :

$6,500.- (Six Thousand Five Hundred).

You will probably recall that this "Madonna of the Martyrs" is a Bozzetto, for the altarpiece of the Church of San Pietro Martire, Naples. It is indeed a most attractive painting in which the religious representation is subdued by the beauty of the individual figures and the brightness of the hues of the robes and the costumes and armour of the saints.

Hoping I may have the privilege of meeting you some time,

Dr.G.T.Conger,M.D.
1029 Second National Bldg.
Akron 8, Ohio

TP

[[margin]] Conger [[/margin]]

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