Viewing page 67 of 124

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

New York 22, N.Y.

December 3, 1962

Dear Mr. Pope-Hennessy

How very delightful it was to receive your note of November 28th, for which I thank you. 

I am thrilled to read that you are much attracted by my little St. Jerome; though I should add that I am not surprised, for it is indeed a delightful sculpture. 

However, I am much embarrassed when you are asking me about its price, for I know well, on the one hand, how limited your funds are and, on the other hand, how truly delighted I would be were it to go to your Museum. 

The price I am quoting is $20,000 (Twenty Thousand Dollars); but, to be perfectly frank, I would much prefer to hear from you what you think you could spend for it, and if I can possibly accept you figure, I will. You remember how easily we got together when you purchased my two great Renaissance statues. 

Your comments about its being probably Swabian, from the third quarter of the fifteenth century, is a thought that had not occurred to me, for all the reasons I expressed previously; but I shall not argue with you, all the more as you have so much material to judge from. 

The question whether it is alabaster or marble is again one which I must leave to you. Personally, I am tempted to consider it as being marble (?), attributed I believe to Germain Pilon, which shows very much the same kind of "granulated" surface. 

Yes, indeed, I remember your fine Pieta by the Master of Rimini - from Sir Thomas Barlow? I admired it much last year when it was shown among the recent acquisitions with your superb Antico Bronze. Would you imply that my St. Jerome is of the same family?

.../...