Nov. 13, 1952

Mr. Guy Emerson

W. Sulda

The painting entitled The Menuet and attributed to Giovanni Domenico Tienolo, offered by Mr. Koetser, corresponds in all details to a composition which was engraved in the 19th century by G. Leonardis. The painting from which the engraving was made was formerly in the collection of Princesse Mathilde Bonaparte. After her death it was for some time the nronerty of Wildenstein, who sold it years ago. There was in the collection of Princesse Mathilde a. pendant to this painting, representing a Charlatan, signed by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and dated 175^. This date is presumably also that of The Menuet.

These two paintings were originally in the collection of Conte Algarotti, a contemporary of Tiepolc^knd a renowned connaisseur and advisor to princely collectors of his time, among them the founder of the Dresden gallery, August III, Elector of Sa.xony and King of Poland.

The variant now offered to the Foundation is of good artistic quality and was certainly painted in the 13th century by an immediate follower of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Some parts show the participation of his son, Giovanni Domenico, especially in the background. The larger figures in the foreground seem to be by a different hand, also trained by G. B. Tiepolo, possibly his second son Lorenzo.

It is not unusual to find such a replica of a Tiepolo composition, made by a close follower, possibly in his studio. In the monograph on G. B. and Domenico Tiepolo by Eduard Sa,ck (Hamburg 1910) there is a close variant of our composition with almost the same figures in the foreground, but with a completely different background. This variant was formerly in the Merit collection in Darmstadt. January 6, 1953 ^ mt

List of paintings at D.Koetser:

Pompeo Baton!—Portrait of an Englishman

Francesco cle Mura—Robert d'Anjou ordering the building of the church of Santa Chiara in Naples. Modello for a painting which was in the church until its destruction.

Annibale Carracci—Portrait (supposed to be a self portrait)

Pietro Mulier—Ternpesta. Heroic landscape with Biblical figures of wandering people

Domenico Zampieri, called Domenichino—St. Cecilia. From the Borghese, Dues di Lucca and Lord Lansdowne collections. G-. P. Panini—1747, signed—Two views of antique : the Campo moaria ant the Colosseo.

French painter of the 18th century—Two mythological ceiling sketches

Magnasco—Two scenes from the lives of Harlequins.

1-ifttia Preti, il Cavalier Cala.brese—Three Beggar Boys, published by Giuliano Briganti, ParagoneMarch 1951, p.33. Pietro 1Tecchia, 1649—Portrait of the German philosopher and Mat heme t i c ia n, Erhardt v. ;e ige 1 Monsu Desiderio—Architectural scene with the figures of King David and Bathsheba. Guercino—Martyrdom of St. Petronille. Modello or copy of the altarpiece in the Capitoline Gallery, Rone. Attributed to Jacopo Amigoni—Portrait of a princess seated between two Polish noblemen.

Sebastiano Ricci—Three large mythological scenes: 1. The fight of the Centaurs against the Lapiths on the occasion of the marriage of the king, Peirithous. 2. The contest between Apollo and Marsyas with Midas as judge. 3. The Magnanimity of Scipio, with the young couple kneeling before him.

Sebastiano and —Classical landscape signed by both artists, with ruins (by Marco) and figures (by Sebastiano) Gasnare Traversi, signed and dated 1752—T-p paintings of groups of figures in the costume of the period, symbol­ izing music and drawing. These are the onlv signed paintings of this type, T-rhich years ego permitted the identification of this artist, T-hiose works had until then been attributed to the Neapolitan Bonito. David m. koetser gallery

NEW YORK LONDON 32 EAST 57TH STREET 9 ROSE Cr CROWN YARD KING STR. PICCADILLY TELEPHONE: MURRAY HILL 8-5 I I I TELEPHONE: WHITEHALL 3725 CABLES: PICTUREDOM. NEW YORK CABLES: PICTUREDOM. LONDON

January 12, 1953

Mr. Guy Emerson Samuel H. Kress Foundation 221 West 57th Street New York 19, New York

Dear Mr. Emerson:

It afforded me much pleasure to show you, Professor Suida and Mr. Modestini the group of twenty-two paintings at my gallery last Monday. In accordance with your suggestion I have sent you today the paintings by Pietro Vecchia, Domenichino and Magnasco.

At the same time I also sent the Catalogue of the Burlington Fine Arts Club exhibition held in 1925 which describes and illustrates the Pietro Vecchia, and a brochure on the Domenichino. The entire group of paintings is the result of my efforts of the past summer and were all acquired in England, with the exception of the interior "Polish noblewoman with two gentlemen in attendance" by Amigoni which I obtained in France.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely

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Samuel H. Kress Foundation 20th February 1953 221 West 57th Street New York 19

* • ml TO PAINTINGS! ^ View of the Grand Canal with the Dogana f.:

Orazio Gentileschi li~1 i{~ (? n Portrait of a young woman 5“

Domenico Tiepolo ^ The Minuet - : "i I K-n so Annibale Carracci Portrait of a gentleman 7- $*• * f K- i Pier Francesco Mola 1 Landscape l i/ t J ’

Jacopo Amigoni ? ^ Interior with elegant company ( K~ / isf

Sebastiano Ricci > Battle of Centaurs with the Lapiths ft K' <1Sir ]{■' / y jr & /* H Seb. & Marco Ricci Garden scene with figures '• j_ /?>■ r t $ $ j * ^Gaspare Traversi Interiors with figures ( a pair )

i{- Porapeo Batoni -xi I Portrait of a gentleman V

$90,000.00 March 3, 1953

The Irving Trust Gonpany 5?th St. and Madison Avenue Hew York, H. Y.

G-entlemen: Attentions Assistant Manager We are enclosing our check in the amount of $90,000 for deposit to the account of David M. Koetser. We understand that Mr. Koetser has informed you of this deposit and that you will acknowledge receipt of It directly to him.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Very truly yours,

Guy Emerson