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463
388
#33 Ferry Avenue,
Detroit, Michigan,
December 26th, 1905.

My dear Mr. Bixby:--
Replying to your kind letter of December 22nd.

I have very pleasant recollections in a general way of the Twachtman paintings now in charge of Mr. Silas S. Dustin, as they were kept by the Twachtman Estate out of those left in the artist's studio at the time of his death. You will remember that we had a sale in which all of the sketches and less important pictures were sold. I cannot, however, remember those retained well enough to select therefrom any especial one which I would consider more desirable for the Museum; but, I have taken the liberty of uniting to Mr. Dewing about the matter and I shall let you have his reply as soon as it comes. Dewing knows more about these pictures than anybody else. He was a great friend and admirer of Twachtman and you will remember spent a lot of his time, immediately after the artist's death, in having the pictures framed, arranging for the Exhibition and Sale and is still, I believe, in charge of the funds belonging to the Estate.

I would prefer his opinion to that of anybody else concerning the most desirable one for your Museum to consider.

You are doing a fine thing in interesting your Museum in the works of the better American painters. The last two or three years has made a great change in public appreciation and