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Charlottentz (?) September 12th, 1913
Dear Mr. Duveen: I wrote you just the other day. The terracotta relief by Ben de Majano (it is probably in the hands of Costantini?) is underlined not an original, but a replica like the many stucchi existing of the same relief, though a good one, but certainly nothing for Duveen Brothers. The terracotta but of a young warriorat Grafei's is an interesting original, but not by Ben. de Majano. I believe it, as you do, to be a work of Verrochio's school, probably by Lorenzo di Cridi. Grafei has besides his excellent Madonna statue by Donatello's pupil Giovanni Mirelli of Padova, a very charming statue of an angel, very near to Antonio Rasselliao. The Virgin in painted terracotta, attributed by Volpi to Laurana, is too good for Laurana. I believe it by Matteo Civitati, pupil of Desidorio. There is a similar group at Mrs. Gardner's in Boston, the Virgin adoring the Child. It is a charming figure, nearly as fine as the one bought last year with the complete group by the Metropolitan Museum. The profumiere at Volpi's is, as I believe, one of the most important works by Riccio of his later time, executed by the master himself. That it was believed an important work even at Riccio's time shows that it is partly gilded. The replica in the the sic Werntner Coll. is only made in his studio. Believe me, Yours very sincerely, Bode.