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LOEW'S INCORPORATED
ARS GRATIA ARTIS
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURES
CULVER-CITY
CALIFORNIA

8/28/46.

Dear Bob,

The shipment arrived today, all the boxes, four Pippins, the bronze piece and the Weighardt. In three days I will let you know exactly what I've decided, but in the meantime you must send me some kind of list of rock-bottom prices on each piece.

Frankly, I'm disappointed. None of the Pippins compares with the one I bought here, "Saturday Night Bath", not remotely in quality, and yet for two of the ones you sent you are asking almost as much as I piad [[paid]] for the one. Yes, after poor Pippin's death, too. "Water Boy", printed in 1943 is still wet and since you sent it in a pile of excelsior and feathers and shavings and stuff it isn't too pretty. But let me know about prices, wiring if you can.

On the bronze bird, I expected something as good as I saw a time back in the Downtown Gallery, but this piece which you insist is important is no where near the quality of the ones I saw in the Halpert place. Arensberg agrees with me, too. When ever in the future you tell me "important" remember that I think you mean first and not second-quality.

As for the Weighardt, my impression is one of talent, but still tentative and seeking, soft, groping. So just now if I want that kind of painting I'd buy Avery, Knaths and Gatch, all of whom seem to me to have influenced your painter. In fact just last week we bought a beautiful Gatch that is hanging now over the fireplace.

So this is my report for the moment. My chief interest is in Pippin's Man on Park Bench and the War Picture, altho it is really a museum picture, plastically strong but entertainingly weak because of the low tones which look good only under electric light which is probably were [[where]]  they were painted.

Best regards in the meantime,
Clifford O.

7942 Hillside Ave.,
Los Angeles, 46, Cal.

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