Viewing page 29 of 120

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

- 2 -

lesser interest to you.

As I told you, without any obligation of course to your museum, I will be happy to send you whichever pasts and drawings you would like to have and keep over the summer months.

Now, may I revert to the topic of the items in your museum which came from the Wallace collection, which also at times was called Scott as well as Sackville.

I explained to you that in the course of a book I am writing at present covering the activities of this firm since its inception in 1880 I am trying to reestablish the inventory of the Wallace Collection, as far as is feasible, originally housed at Bagatelle, then inherited by John Murray Scott, against which will Lady Sackville fought.  The latter having won her suit my father purchased this whole group which was by then in a house, rue Laffitte.

As the archives of my Paris firm including the list of items of the Wallace Collection were destroyed during the war I have to depend upon my memory and the good will of those who have acquired these are treasures, directly or indirectly.

As Mr. Williken so correctly stated I believe that Mr. John L. Severance acquired some as well as Mrs. Raney Rogers, but of course there might be others.

This I realize fully is a tedious undertaking but I will be ever so much obligated to you for whatever date you will be able to supply me with.  Upon receipt of your list I will probably take up anew more of your time, asking you for photographs of some of them, for reproduction purposes.

Now may I also take further advantage of your kindness in asking you whether you have any portraits by Fragonard, either in oil or as drawings?  This is also for another book Ethlyne and I are writing.

I do not recall any in your museum or am I wrong, but would you know of any collectors in or around Cleveland who would own some?

And now, another request, which is due to my lack of memory - could I have the name of the fascinating catalogue of the Museum in Munich which Mr. Williken was looking at yesterday containing those beautiful German manuscripts, for if possible I would like to order a copy.

I am sending you herein a photograph of my Delacroix drawing, recto and verso, and as I told you I am wondering whether you would have any clues about the crown of cupids at the top of the verso side.  You will realise from the sheet of study with the beautiful horse on the recto, what a superb example it is and also so physically important; measuring 16-1/2" x 21-3/4".

Hoping you will have been able3 to bear with me this long, and with kind regards,

Sincerely yours,

(Germain Seligman)

TP

Mr. Henry S. Francis
The Cleveland Museum of Art
East Boulevard & Bellflower Road
Cleveland 6,
Ohio