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🗸

May 17, 1951

Dear William: 

The purchase I made of a charming putto in marble by Gian-Bologna gives me a pleasant opportunity of communicating with you.

Los Angeles is definitely quite far from New York and I am truly sorry to have so rarely the occasion of seeing you!

May I inquire whether you would have time to write a short study, about a page long, with elements of comparison 🗸 on this charming and rare marble. It goes without saying that should you be willing to undertake this I on the other hand would not accept it unless you allowed me to remunerate you for your time and science.

In fact, I would not be surprised if this marble were well known to you, as I saw it for the first time a good many years ago at His Excellency G.E. Auriti's home in Vienna, when he was Ambassador of Italy to that country.

The photographs as usual are unsatisfactory and particularly in view of the contro posto. May I point out that the two wings are of a later period and that, as is noticeable - but I purposely do not wish to restore them - the breaks in the lower left leg and the right ankle, have old repairs. All parts, however, are original except the "lower" base which was probably added in order to reinforce the original one when it suffered damage. On the backs of the photographs you will have the height.

Do let me hear from you and meanwhile with kind regards,

Sincerely yours,

(Germain Seligman)

Dr. William R. Valentiner
Los Angeles County Museum 
Exposition Park
Los Angeles
California

(.) the is one to come to my mind is the bronze group "Charitas" with two very similar children in the univ. of Senora

TP