Viewing page 120 of 137

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

July 30/46

Dear Mr. Carlen, 

I have started work on a monograph dealing with the painting of Horace Pippin, to be published by Houghton Mifflin, and to be illustrated, if possible, with black & white plates of all his oils, ten in full color. I talked to Mrs. Halpert of Downtown Galleries about this project several months ago; we had planned to visit Mr. Pippin just before his death was announced; she suggested that I get in touch with you.

I will not be able to come to Philadelphia before September, but in the meantime I would be grateful for your answers to several preliminary questions:

1) Have you any of Pippin's work at your Gallery?

2) Would you be able and willing to help us with information regarding the artist's life and method?

3) Would it be possible to visit the studio in West Chester? Would it be worthwhile?

4) Would it be possible to see the Pippins in the Barnes Collection? Would Mr. Barnes permit their reproduction?

5) Could you suggest a number of people with whom it would be important for us to talk regarding either the man or his work?

Thanking you for any help you can give us and looking forward to meeting you before long, I am, 

Sincerely, 
Selden Rodman

P.S. I'll be at Sharon Springs, N.Y. c/o George Clausen, all next week; thereafter home, 8 Prospect Place, New York City.

Mu. 4-1789