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August 13, 1952

Dear Henry:

Your good letter of July 31st reached me here where we are enjoying a marvellous vacation but working hard on our two new books.

How extremely good of you to express such praise of "Oh Fickle Taste" and I do hope that at least part of it is truly felt, as your opinion means so much to me. I don't know whether you wrote along the same lines to Mrs. Wheelwright, but I shall post her about your willingness to review it when published, as I could not think of a more sympathetic reviewer and, personal feeling aside, one who would be as unbiased on such matters. For it certainly did not escape you that I am treading on quite a few toes and have left myself open to sharp criticism from some of you colleagues and from "famous" scholars.

Regarding the Guardi, do excuse me if I tell you that my memory is slightly blurred on this topic. I thought that whatever documentation was available had been turned over, but I shall look into this when I return and, of course, will be only too pleased to contact Jacob Goldschmidt anew in the hope that he will be able to give you further data should he not have sent it all to us.

As to other matters, in view of the fact that you write you will not come to New York before later in the season and that I may have to go back to Europe in the second half of September, I shall most probably telephone you in Cleveland shortly after my return to the office.

I do hope Frances and you are enjoying the cool of Vermont and with all good wishes to you both from us both,

Sincerely,

Henry S. Francis, esq.
Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, Ohio