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Oct 15 1915 from NY England

Henry C. Frick Esq. July 15.15

Dear Sir, May I call your attention to the superb picture, "Virgin and Child", by Sandro Botticelli, the property of Mr Hugh Blaker, R.B.A., late director of the Holborne Art Museum, Bath. Owing to the war and the possibility of legislation restricting the export of works of art, Mr Blaker is willing to sell this masterpiece, the only Botticelli for sale in the world; indeed it is the sole example of the master which has been in the market since the purchase of the Chigi Madonna, by Mrs Gardner, of Boston. The head of the Virgin is that of the famous La Bella Simonetta, (Simonetta Vespucci) who, as you are doubtless aware, figures in other pictures of Botticelli. This is probably the most beautiful small pic-ture by Botticelli in existance, the size is 26" x 17". The colouring is particularly fine and well preserved the Virgin's dress being a deep bright red and the cloak dark green, with enrichments in gold. The price- exceedingly moderate considering the importance of the picture- is $16,000 (sixteen thousand pounds).