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Museum of Art
 
Carnegie Institute 
4400 Forbes Avenue 
Pittsburgh 13
Pennsylvania 
(412) 621-7300

8 February 1965

Mr. Robert Carlen 
323 South 16th Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 


Dear Mr. Carlen:

I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am for your letter of February 4; and I think I should state at this point that many years ago I met you and visited your gallery in Philadelphia. I can't recall the exact circumstances, but I do remember your enthusiasm then for Pippin. I'm glad you like the idea of the triple show.

Since writing to you, we managed to borrow Selden Rodman's book which I cannot buy anyplace although I have a number of book dealers looking out for it. The peripheral survey I've given to the volume made me feel that my letter to you was really not acknowledging your tremendous influence on Pippin and I was worried lest I had hurt your feelings. Your letter allays my concern.

I realize I shall have to come to visit you in Philadelphia for additional material and, incidentally, it occurs to me that you may want to write an article on Pippin, which could be incorporated in our catalogue - that is, if you have time.

Now, to your letter. I would be most grateful if you would have prints made of the Pippins and Hicks paintings you have negatives for. Please bill us. Would you also be able to provide titles, sizes and present collections on each of these? I have photographs ofmost Kanes, although there are still a few gaps as to present owners. If you know of any that are in specific collections, I would be very happy to have this material.

Incidentally, I bought Ault's Kane at Parke-Bernet. One of our Trustees was so intrigued by it that he gave me carte blanche to secure it regardless of price; in fact, I was instructed to buy it up to $25,000, which is, indeed, incredible. We now have three Kanes and G. David Thompson has promised us those that are in his collection. While on this subject, let me also add that I secured one of the Twining Farm pictures by Hicks for our collection. It is not equal to the one at 

Gustave von Groschwitz director Leon Anthony Arkus associate director