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COPY - Paul L. Grigaut, Detroit Inst. of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave. Detroit 2,

"In the summer of 1951 the City of Detroit is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its foundation. As part of our participation, the Art Institute is planning an exhibition to be called "The French in America, 1500-1875" which will take place from July 8 to Sept. 16.

The program of this exhibition is to show the story of the inter-relations of France and America, of which Detroit is a part of, as they appear in [[strikethrough]] the Revolutionary War [[/strikethrough]] works of art. We hope to show graphically the age of the explorers, the colonial culture of French Canada and of early Detroit, the part taken by France in the Revolutionary war and, finally, to have a large and comprehensive section devoted to the artists of French origin like Audubon or Saint-Memin who became part of, and enriched, the early national culture of the United States. There will be books, engravings, paintings, many examples of decorative arts, in the hope to represent the story of a long and fruitful collaboration of two nations in a vivid and well rounded whole.

The story of this collaboration, as it is represented in the arts, has not been told before. We hope to make this an exhibition of great artistic interest and at the same time, of great historic significance. Already extremely important objects of great variety have been promised to us, such as the Verrazzano Codex from the Morgan Library and Lafayette's sword which the General used during the War of Independence. The exhibition will be recorded in a catalogue of appropriate completeness. I may add here that American and foreign personalities, M. Henri Bonnet, French Ambassador Washington and Mr. Bruce, American Ambassador to France, have accepted to serve on our Honorary Committee.

Among the episodes in our story which I have been so far unable to fill is Degas' stay in the United States. I asked Chicago for their Musson family sketch, the Fogg for the sketch of the New Orleans Cotton Merchants, and the Museum at Pau for their finished version of the scene. But while Degas was in Louisiana he made, as you know, several other portraits and landscapes. Are there in this country or in France any which the Institute could borrow? I imagine that if anybody knows where they are, you do.

May I ask you another favor? You see what the theme of our show is. Do you have any suggestions? In are weak in Order of Cincinnati material -- oil portraits or even engravings of French members of the Order. I should add that I wrote to France on that subject, but as yet have little that is concrete or extremely important. I hoped to dramatize the show somewhat by showing portraits of the French rulers involved in the France-America theme; but I still need good portraits of Richelieu, Louis XV, Vergennes and Louis XVI, although I must confess I did not look for them too carefully in this country. Again do you have any suggestions? Any help you could give us will be greatly appreciated. Sincerely yours,

JOSEPH PULITZER, St. Louis, Post Dispatch, St. Louis Mo. April 17, 1951 "On our return from Mexico I found the Braque Rum Bottle with the new liner and am pleased with the results. While the oval is not perfect, I suppose, short of the field of mathematics, that is not a reasonable expectation but the effect of the gold lines is a marked improvement and the picture looks very well. Thank you very much for your cooperation in this matter. With kind regards, S.Y.

Sherman E. Lee, Seattle Art Museum, Volunteer Park, Seattle 2, Washington. April 13, '51 "For the moment there is, I am afraid, no possibility of our acquiring any of the fine things which you so kindly showed me while I was in New York. I am therefore returning the photographs which you lent me, under separate cover.

I took the liberty of mentioning the Pierino da Vinci to Mr. Emerson of the Kress Foundation for future consideration in the event that anything transpires along the lines of a Foundation memorial gallery here. This is of course confidential, but if we have such a gallery I should be extremely desirous of having that sculpture in it. 

Thank you again for your splendid cooperation. Kindest regards, Yours.

xxx. Hannah J. Howell (Mrs. Henry W. Howell, Jr.) Frick Art Reference Library, 10 East 71st Street, New York, N.Y. "Among the photographs received from you last October...

Transcription Notes:
Many omissions ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-29 16:37:39