Letter from Alice Creelman to Henry Clay Frick, 15 April 1915
Scripto
Transcription
NOV 16 1915
FORWARDED from NY
REFERRED
ANSWERED
9 West 83rd Street
April 15, 1915
My dear Mr. Frick:
I have not yet received reply to my cable to London in regard to the Titian. It is probable that it is necessary for Mrs. Hind to reflect a little about the price but of course I shall notify you at once when I hear.
I am sending herewith photographs of the bas-reliefs of Rosselino and Donatello, the property of Mrs. Chauncey J. Blair of Chicago. They have been exhibited for a fortnight or more at the Arden Gallery and are now on the point of being removed.
They are wonderful examples of
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14th and 15th century art. Rosselino's date is 1427 to 1497, and Donatello's 1383 to 1466.
Both these reliefs have been passed upon by the authorities of the Louvre, by Friedlander of Berlin and Dr. Bode and all the others. They are perfect examples. Rosselino's Virgin is a most lovely woman. The modelling of the face is marvellous. It is in stucco and is old faded polychrome. It is framed in a lovely old setting.
I can imagine nothing more exquisite and chaste for your beautiful and austere gray stone hall than such perfect bas-reliefs. It would make a wonderful classic note, leading
[end of page 2]
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to the rich beauty of the paintings and the gallery. Mrs. Blair has made this really extraordinary collection of French, Italian and Gothic mediaeval art. It is better known in Europe than here. Not all is possible for a private house but certain things she has are marvellous and unobtainable elsewhere. She is breaking up this collection. The Arden Gallery has been showing some of them. The Arden Gallery demanded $25,000 each for the Rosselino and the Donatello, but Mrs. Blair authorizes me to privately accept $20,000 which would include my modest commission and do away with the high rate of the gallery. This is a very low price indeed
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as Canessa says they are fully worth $30,000. The Rosselino stands on two lovely stone columns, old Gothic things, which are not included in this price but which make a wonderful and impressive effect. I think the columns are $1,200 but am not sure. The Rosselino is polychromed soft-blue and gray and gold in the old frame. I think it is more beautiful than anything in the Morgan collection. The Donatello Virgin and Child is in brownish stone or terra cotta.
Mrs. Blair tells me that the two pieces are already boxed to be shipped but if I wish she will send them back to me and I can send them to you to examine and to see them in the hall or where you wish. They are very unusual and represent a most rare and pure art.
Very sincerely yours
Alice B. Creelman
(Mrs. James Creelman)
FORWARDED from NY
REFERRED
ANSWERED
9 West 83rd Street
April 15, 1915
My dear Mr. Frick:
I have not yet received reply to my cable to London in regard to the Titian. It is probable that it is necessary for Mrs. Hind to reflect a little about the price but of course I shall notify you at once when I hear.
I am sending herewith photographs of the bas-reliefs of Rosselino and Donatello, the property of Mrs. Chauncey J. Blair of Chicago. They have been exhibited for a fortnight or more at the Arden Gallery and are now on the point of being removed.
They are wonderful examples of
[end of page 1]
[beginning of page 2]
14th and 15th century art. Rosselino's date is 1427 to 1497, and Donatello's 1383 to 1466.
Both these reliefs have been passed upon by the authorities of the Louvre, by Friedlander of Berlin and Dr. Bode and all the others. They are perfect examples. Rosselino's Virgin is a most lovely woman. The modelling of the face is marvellous. It is in stucco and is old faded polychrome. It is framed in a lovely old setting.
I can imagine nothing more exquisite and chaste for your beautiful and austere gray stone hall than such perfect bas-reliefs. It would make a wonderful classic note, leading
[end of page 2]
[beginning of page 3]
to the rich beauty of the paintings and the gallery. Mrs. Blair has made this really extraordinary collection of French, Italian and Gothic mediaeval art. It is better known in Europe than here. Not all is possible for a private house but certain things she has are marvellous and unobtainable elsewhere. She is breaking up this collection. The Arden Gallery has been showing some of them. The Arden Gallery demanded $25,000 each for the Rosselino and the Donatello, but Mrs. Blair authorizes me to privately accept $20,000 which would include my modest commission and do away with the high rate of the gallery. This is a very low price indeed
[end of page 3]
[beginning of page 4]
as Canessa says they are fully worth $30,000. The Rosselino stands on two lovely stone columns, old Gothic things, which are not included in this price but which make a wonderful and impressive effect. I think the columns are $1,200 but am not sure. The Rosselino is polychromed soft-blue and gray and gold in the old frame. I think it is more beautiful than anything in the Morgan collection. The Donatello Virgin and Child is in brownish stone or terra cotta.
Mrs. Blair tells me that the two pieces are already boxed to be shipped but if I wish she will send them back to me and I can send them to you to examine and to see them in the hall or where you wish. They are very unusual and represent a most rare and pure art.
Very sincerely yours
Alice B. Creelman
(Mrs. James Creelman)
Status
To transcribe
Percent Completed
100
Weight
100100
Files
Collection
Citation
“Letter from Alice Creelman to Henry Clay Frick, 15 April 1915,” Transcribe Frick, accessed April 25, 2024, https://transcribe.frick.org/items/show/181.