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Mr. Germain Seligman - 2  May 16, 1949

Suida[[underlined]], upon my telephone call, answered that the meeting had not yet taken place.  He was hoping that it would take place in the near future.  He would come up very soon to see the rejuvenated painting.

FREY[[underlined]], one-half share owner of "Hercules and the Lion" took the Bronze along, $11,000.- being the lowest price for which he should sell it.  He is going to show it to a European customer K.....who is here for a week, and return it afterwards.

Mrs. Biddle[[underlined]] came in and said "I would like you to buy back from me all the paintings of mine you have on approval.  I do not expect you to purchase them from me at the price I bought them from you, but anyhow I would prefer to get rid of these paintings."

Hereunder the list of various items:  Selling Price to her[[underlined]]   Dost Price[[underlined]]
French 18th   "Boudior Scene"   $163.37   $ 75.-
(attributed to Gravelot)

PIERRE   2 Pastels "Heads of Young Women"   707.-   300.-

RUSSELL   "Mrs. Vansittard and her son"   1717.-   Ffcs. 15,000.- credited Paris in 1943 with $800.00-

COUNT DE NOAILLES[[underlined]] whom I met, came to see me.  Told me the most intersting story: [[marked out entry]]  You remember that several months ago there was a sale in Paris of Delacroix portraits.  The Louvre bought two of them in the usual manner, that is, they let the public bid to the top of its capacity, then they announed that, at that price the Louvre was buying the paintings.  The paintings were brought to the Louvre where, after close examination, the committee used its legal right to reject the purchase during the first fortnight after the purchase at the sale.  The person who had bought those paintings at the sale before the Louvre exercised its right of pre-emption was notified that, as long as the Louvre did not want the paintings they are depreciated, and he did not want them either.  Those paintings are on the market somewhere in Paris.  It might be worthwhile for you to look at them.  Noailles said that one was very much under the influence of the English painters with a blue background and not typical enought of Delacroix.  The second he considers as a very good painting, and the third, he said, was ugly.


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