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March 21, 1958

Dear Mr. Richardson,

You will find herein a photograph of a painting which I owned "The Vision of Saint Joseph" by Philippe de Champaigne, measuring 6'11" x 5'2" and which has recently been purchased by the National Gallery of London.

The enclosed photostat (excerpt from the Illustrated News) will give you appraisal of the welcome with which it was greeted in London. It occurred to me - and needless to say it would please me much - that you might wish to publish this photograph among that part of your magazine so revealing of trends through the country of "Recent Accessions by Museums".

You know what efforts I have made in my contacts with public institutions in the United States to foster an interest in French Seventeenth Century paintings, a field I consider very much neglected, and I thought that this news in addition to other factors, would prove my point in showing that one of the oldest European Museums was anxious to acquire a painting of that period.

As a rule, I believe you do not indicate the name of the firm from which such acquisitions are made, but in view of the museum being an English one and my firm's name figuring already in the English magazine, you could perhaps make an exception for which I would of course be greatly obliged to you.

You will probably remember this impressive work or arts whose pedigree goes all the way back to the time of its inception, and though the Magazine photostat will provide you with the necessary data, I would be only to glad to supply you with any additional information you would care to receive.

Thanking you in advance for your kind reply and with personal regards,

Sincerely yours,

Germain Seligman

Mr. E.P. Richardson, Editor
The Art Quarterly
The Detroit Institute of Arts
Detroit 2, Michigan  

Transcription Notes:
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