Letter from Roger E. Fry to Henry Clay Frick, 16 May 1911

Durbins
Guildford.
May 16.11.

Dear Mr. Frick.

I must apologize for some delay having been away in Constantinople & Brusa where I went to study Byzantine art & got delayed by the illness of one of my party. I have so many pictures to talk of that I must divide them methodically.
1. The Huth Holbein of Sir. Thomas More. This is universally accepted as a Holbein & as probably the first picture which he painted when he came to England. It is more massive more solid in modeling than his later works in England, on the other hand the treatment of the drapery and the jewelled chain is rather heavy & has not his usual elegance of line. The picture is in fairly good condition but needs the varnish

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removing and a crack retouching. It is a picture of great historical interest and importance. I don't know what the owner is asking but I do consider it on the whole a picture worthy of your collection. There is however this to be noted that there is a much finer though less imposing and important Holbein in private hands in England which might for all I know be obtainable, the Sir Thomas Bryan the original of the copy in the Munich gallery.

2. The Saskia portrait at Le Sarraz. I have not yet been to see this but intend to go shortly, as soon as my duties in the Burlington Magazine permit. I feel convinced that this is a genuine early Rembrandt probably of great beauty. I should advise you to purchase it if it can be got at anything like a reasonable price. I suppose it could not be less nowadays than £30,000 or £40,000.

3. By the by the picture of a Rabbi by Rembrandt Book No 198 in the possession of Graf Nastitz of Prague is for sale. I know that a dealer has offered £60,000 & will of course sell at 80 or 90 thousand. If you wish it I know that I can get it direct for about 70 thousand. It is a very important

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example of that period but personally I should not advise your buying is at such a figure since as you know I do not think these early works nearly so characteristic or imaginative as the later ones. However you must decide & in this case if you care to act please send me a cable. Anyhow this will forewarn you in case the picture should subsequently be offered to you at a great advance in price.

4. I have come across another Rubens portrait, that of the Arch Duke Albert, governor of the Netherlands of which I send you a photograph. It is slightly later than the one I have just sent you - presumably a finer and more imposing picture, very rich & brilliant in colour. The price asked is £10,000 but as I was offered a commission which I shall decline I can get it for £9000. I think this a very desirable picture.

5. Mr. J.G. Johnson has told you I understand about a large & splendid Venetian landscape attributed to Basaiti but which I have since found to be by Cima

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da Conegliano and to be the original of a copy by Basaiti in the Budapest Gallery. This makes the work of greater importance & value. The coloring is magnificent and it can now be had for £3000. At this price it is very cheap and I would strongly advise your getting it. It is hard to exaggerate the beauty of the coloring & the strong golden atmosphere.

6. I send you also a photograph of a picture of Diana & her nymphs which has lately turned up. It is in my opinion an early Vermeer but the Chief Dutch authorities dispute this view & I am not specialist enough to go against this, though I do not alter my opinion. At present it would be sold strictly on its merits at a price very much below what it would fetch if its authenticity was recognized. It is not at first sight at all an attractive picture but the colour is really true & it grows on me

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in a surprising way. I wouldn't venture to press this speculative purchase on you but think you may like to see the picture before it becomes generally known.

The Charles Butler sale is coming on shortly & those will be some important Italian primitives. I know the collection well. Particularly good are two large battle scenes, Cassone fronts by a good pupil of Paolo Ucello. These may be worth your consideration. If you think of them please cable.

Yrs. vry sincerely
Roger E. Fry

P.S. Is there any hope of seeing you in Europe this summer. It wld. give me great pleasure.

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