Viewing page 5 of 98

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

CMH:R

December 12th, 1936

My dear Friend:

I appreciate ever-so-much your letter of November 27th, and especially the photograph which you were good enough to enclose.

Yes, indeed, this Lautrec drawing is a first-class work by the artist, and I am extremely fond of it.  As I told you before, in view of the very small commercial interest which I can see in this country for drawings, our firm cannot consider its purchase. However, I am personally interested in it, and am willing to buy it, if it lives up to what you say about it. Of course, I would have to see the drawing, and I can make up my mind in one hour.

Last year you were good enough to send me on approval the drawing of "Jane Avril" which I was considering buying myself. When I received it I found out that the drawing did not carry on the wall as I expected it to, because of the fact that the red chalk had been used on grayish-blue paper, but later on we sold it to a client.  Therefore, you will understand that I would not buy just from a photograph. Furthermore there is the question of price.  As you can see from the Goyant book, this drawing was sold for the first time at auction Ffrs. 1.500.- and in 1923 was again sold for something like Ffrs.1,900.- Even if I forget about pre-1925 prices, it is hard to admit that this drawing is worth approximately Ffrs. 40,000 today, and unless I am greatly mistaken, I do not see who can pay such a figure.

Not to make this letter too lengthy, I will conclude thusly; try to obtain the drawing on consignment with an understanding that it will remain in America for only one hour and that it will be sent back on the first boat. I will then make an offer on it, 

…………