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April 10th., 1925

Colonel W. Endicott, 
115 Devonshire St.,
Boston, Mass.

Dear Col. Endicott:

You probably will not remember me by name, so I might mention that I was formerly connected with Scott and Fowles, and I spoke to you on several occasions while you were considering the purchase of those two English portraits.

I severed my connection with them, however, about eighteen months ago, to join Jacques Seligmann & Co. You no doubt know this firm very well by reputation, as we are the leading art dealers in Europe, and have been established in Paris for over fifty years and in New York about thirty-five.

We are represented in most of the important museums throughout the country and we were also responsible for bringing together the greater part of the Pierpont Morgan Collection, besides having been the advisors of many other prominent collectors.

The reason for my writing you this letter, however, is to call your attention to an extremely interesting picture which we have recently acquired. It is an authenticated, full length portrait of George Washington, by Charles Wilson Peale; the canvas measuring 44"x61".

In the background are two small figures on horseback, of General Lafayette and Colonel Tilghman, Washington's Aides-de-Camp, and there is also a distant view of Nassau Hall, Princeton College, with a small group of Hessian prisoners under guard. 

The provenance of this picture is also very interesting, as it belonged to Mlle. de la Fresnaye, aunt of Pierre de Nolhac, who was formerly the Curator at Versailles, and who is now in charge of the Jacquemart Andre Museum in Paris. 

This portrait was brought to France during the reign of Louis XVI, by a friend of Rochambeau, and was reframed. 

Transcription Notes:
faded stamp like seal at bottom edge of page