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May 4th., 1950 My dear Mr. Cecil: Your most interesting and kind lines of May 1st., reached me earlier today and I hasten to thank you for the promptness with which you were so good as to answer me. The photograph of the portrait of the "Duc de Chartres" by TOCQUE has already been ordered and should I receive the assurance that it will be ready within the next twenty four hours it will be included in this letter - Otherwise I will airmail it separately. The subject of your article in the Burlington Magazine stirs me considerably as you can readily imagine. As I wrote you it is a topic which has always been much on my mind, and I have been right along surprised that art historians did not develop such a theme. This is particularly curious when one thinks of the number of learned men who are still unaware of the past existence of the Paris Wallace collection, and for one, should this be of interest to you, is or was Keller-Dorian whose ignorance of this particular subject makes some of his statements in connections with Coysevox busts completely inadequate. I am referring here to the two busts which were originally in the Paris part of the Wallace collection - "Louis XIV" and his brother, "Duc of Orleans", one of which Keller-Dorian mentioned as lost. I am sorry that I did not know earlier of your contemplated writing, as I would have been of course only too happy to help you locate some of these great works of art, which by now are dispersed throughout our Western world. There are so many puzzling questions which to my knowlege have never appeared in print, such as for instance the relationship between the two half brothers, Lord Hertford, and Sir Richard Wallace, and which you will certainly bring to light. Be that as it may, let me say that I am indeed pleased this topic should have brought me in touch with you and should I be in London as I hope towards the end of the months or beginning of June I shall allow myself to call on you at Hertford House, hoping thus to have the privilege of meeting you. With renewed thanks and personal regards, I am, Yours very sincerely, (Germain Seligman) Robert A. Cecil, Esq. The Wallace Collection Manchester Sq. London W.1 England [[right margin]] AS [[/right margin]] [[left margin]] P.S. Herein the photograph which you will find very dark. Should I succeed in obtaining a lighter print I shall forward it to you forthwith. [[/left margin]]
Transcription Notes:
I'm still unsure in formatting the P.S. in the left margin.