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ROBERT LEBEL
DIPLOMÉ DE L'ÉCOLE DU LOUVRE
EXPERT PRÈS LES DOUANES FRANÇAISES 
LES TRIBUNAUX ET LES COURS D'APPEL
16. BOULEVARD RASPAIL, PARIS 7
TÉL. 222 69-77

le 15 Juin 1970

Mr. Germain Seligman
Hôtel Ritz
Paris

Dear Mr. Seligman, 

In my capacity of Diplomé of the Ecole du Louvre, Expert at the French Customs, the French Courts of Appeal and Former President of the French Chamber of Art Experts, I am glad to be able to answer your inquiry and confirm the following:

The oeuvre of Adolphe Monticelli (1824-1886) is indeed well known to us in France. Though he was born in Marseille and spent the greater part of his life there, he was much appreciated by Parisians, and he was certainly one of the striking and original artists of the late 19th century and, as is well known, was much admired by Van Gogh. A series of exhibitions held here and in other European countries in recent years, as well as the considerable number of publications devoted to him, testify to the interest there has been right along in his paintings. 

Monticelli is particularly well known for his genre scenes and fêtes galantes, much inspired in their subject by the French 18th century school deriving from Watteau. However, he excelled also in still-lives and in portraiture, particularly in his earlier years. Several of his portraits, are in fact, now in important museum collections in the United States, to mention but two - the Chicago Art Institute and the National Gallery of Washington, Chester Dale Collection.

Trusting the above answers your questions.

Sincerely yours,

Lebel
Robert Lebel

Transcription Notes:
Mr. Germain Seligman Hotel Ritza Paris Dear Mr. Seligman, In my capacity of Diploma of the Ecole du Louvre, Expert at the French Customs, the French Courts of Appeal and Former President of the French Chamber of Art Experts, I am glad to be able to answer your inquiry and confirm the following: The oeuvre of Adolphe Monticelli (1824-1886) is indeed well known to us in France. Though he was born in Marseille and spent the greater part of his life there, he was much appreciated arts of the late 19th century and, as is well known, was much admired by Van Gogh. A series of exhibitions held here and I other European countries in recent years, as well as the considerable number of publications devoted to him, testify to the interest there has been right along in his paintings. Monticelli is particularly well known for his genre scenes and fetes galantes, much inspired in their subject by the French 18th century school driving from Watteau. However, he excelled also in still-lives and in portraiture, particularly in his earlier years. Several of his portraits, are in fact, now in important museum collections in the United States, to mention but two- the Chicago Art Institute ad the National Gallery of Washington, Chester Dale Collection. Trusting the above answers your questions. Sincerely yours, Robert Lebel