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RS:R

January 15th, 1938

Dear Mr.Ford:

The Museum of Modern Art has entrusted us with the sale of a painting which I want to bring to your attention and which I strongly feel could be interest to you.

It is a very important oil, 18-1/4 inches by 21-5/8 inches by Degas and is one of his finest period as it is signed and dated 1884. This picture which represents "Race Horses" comes from the Collection of Miss Bliss. It is mentioned in Lafond and also in du Bois. It is reproduced in Meier-Graefe Plate LXXVII, edition of 1920, and in Vollard's book on Degas, 1924, Page 48, as well as in the Museum of Modern Art's catalogue of 1934, "Lillie P. Bliss Collection", Plate 25. The picture was exhibited in seven exhibitions including the Armory Show in New York of 1913.

The Museum has requested us to sell this picture for them on a commission basis and they have put an extremely low price on it.

I would esteem it a privilege to have an opportunity of showing this picture to you if you think you will have a few moments to spare to come to the gallery on one of your coming visits to New York, or if you would like me to bring the picture to you in Detroit, I would gladly do this, and at the same time bring along two or three other extremely important paintings which we have and which I would be very happy to show you.

Asking you to kindly remember me to Mrs. Ford,
Please believe me

Yours sincerely,

(René Seligmann)

Edsel B. Ford, Esq.
1100 Lake Shore Drive
Detroit, Michigan

RS