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THE MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS
201 EAST TWENTY-FOURTH STREET • BRIDGEPORT 4256
MINNEAPOLIS 4, MINNESOTA

RUSSELL A. PLIMPTON, DIRECTOR

July 14, 1952

Dear Germain:

You may recall my mentioning to you our plans for an important exhibition of GREAT PORTRAITS BY FAMOUS PAINTERS. After considerable work we have d ecided to proceed with the exhibition and to feature it as the outstanding event of our forthcoming season, opening it November 11.

In organizing the loans, I am adhering very strictly to the “great” and the “famous”.  Therefore, I am writing to ask if you and Evelyn will be willing to lend us your ravishing PORTRAIT OF EMPRESS EUGENIE DRESSED AS MARIE ANTOINETTE. I realize that this is asking for a painting which is one of the chief attractions of your beautiful apartment. However, since works of this quality by Winterhalter are so rare, I know that you will agree with me that the painting should be in our exhibition and catalog.

I think that you will be interested in hearing that the scope of the exhibition is very broad, covering 500 years. The earliest portraits are by Cranach, Holbein, etc. from the Northern School and Titian and his circle from the Southern School. The exhibition will present the complete evolution of portrait painting, but is limited to portraits which are first rate paintings as well as successful portraits of identifiable sitters by painters of lasting reputation. The exhibition will conclude with a few portraits by the Post Impressionists and their immediate followers, Picasso, Matisse, etc.