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H. C. Frick, Pittsburg, PA New York Address 640 Fifth Avenue

TRANSLATION

One of the rare letters which we have from him refers to these works. He writes, March 29, 1773, to the Commissioner on Buildings, who had sent him the usual order (reminder) "Monsieur Fragonard has had the honor of calling upon Monsieur Montucla to present his compliments and to reply to the letter concerning the pictures which he has made for the King. Until now he has been unable to work on them, having been occupied with the paintings ordered by Madame du Barry. Be assured, however, that, as soon as possible, he will work upon them most assiduously". His services to the "Mistress" had become a good (plausible) excuse, but there were years during which he persistently refused to devote himself to the King's work. He was tempted, nevertheless, by decorative painting and so one finds him at this time occupied in painting for Madame du Barry his principal (great) work, which is perhaps the chef d'oeuvre of French decorative painting of the XVIII century. He painted the five large panels representing the Progress of Love in the heart of young girls, the panels which he was to take later to his native town and which have remained there up to the present time (1906) (our days). These famous