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RS/M

January 29th, 1936.

Dear Dr. Valentiner,

I am wondering if anybody in Detroit or in the Museum would be interested in acquiring the "Apollo and Muses" by TINTORETTO which was for so many years in the Vienna Museum.

This painting - which is 37" wide x 21 3/4" high - was part of the collection of the Archduke Léopold-Wilhelm, as is shown in the Inventory made in 1652 (#357), and this collection formed the nucleus of the Vienna picture gallery. In the Catalogue of the Vienna Museum of 1895, the painting is mentioned on page 77, #241.

It is als in the book on Tintoretto by François Fosca, page 142, and in "Jacopo Tintoretto" by Berken & Meyer, volume I, page 247. The painting was also engraved by v. Hoij while in the collection of the Archduke Léopold-Wilhelm. From the Vienna Museum the picture was assigned to the gallery of the Castle of Salzburg, where it remained until about two years ago.

According to Professor Venturi, the picture belongs to the last period of the art of Tintoretto, and he considers it as a "chef-d'oeuvre".

I hope that you have been satisfied with what Mr. Sperling wrote you in reference to the Cuyp, and with my kindest regards,

Please believe me
Yours sincerely,

(René Seligmann)

Dr. W.R. Valentiner,
Detroit Institute of Arts,
DETROIT - MICHIGAN.