Letter

4966.1 May 29, 1939 Dear Maria and Portinari: I would strongly recommend that you do NOT offer at this time to give the Morro picture to the Museum of Modern Art. The picture is now hanging in the show and will remain there all through the summer. the catalogue, as well as the printed label under the picture in the gallery says, “Loaned by the Artist”. As matters now stand, you cabled your price to Mr. Barr but he was unable to by the picture because of the customs bond under which FORTUNE brought it into this country. He told us he would like to re-open discussion of buying it when you come up, or if you don’t come up, when the show closes. We have no idea how he felt about the price, and I think it would be tactless of us to inquire since the question of the sale became complicated not because of price but because of the customs. Meanwhile, your picture hangs in a magnificent show of paintings from all over the world, from the 19th and 20th century – which is a tremendous honor in itself. It will remain there throughout the summer – ‘til September or October I think. My reason for advising you NOT to give the picture at this time is this. If you plan to come to New York (and i hope you do – we all hope so), and if Mr. Brennan succeeds in getting permission for you to store your pictures in the Museum’s committee room, you will thereby be granted a privilege by the Museum. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing to you and perhaps to Mr. Barr if, either just before that privilege has been granted, or even just afterward, you had made an important gift to him? Your eagerness now to have the picture remain in New York, and your disregard of money considerations (which I understand so well, because I know you) might be misunderstood by Mr. Barr. Don’t you agree? When you come to New York, and meet Mr. Barr personally, and when discussion of the Morro comes up, you might then feel able to either give or to sell the picture for a very small price. I think that would be a much, much more graceful and tactful way of doing it. So, I think it would be very much better to leave things as they are now. I realize that you are embarrassed by the Rio newspapers, and I think the easiest way out of it is for you to say that the picture remains, all summer, in the show, and that Brazil, in that show, is the only South American country represented. I hope you are coming up soon. the Fair is really very good, and you’ll be astonished by it. Thank you so much for the picture of Joao Candido who seems to have grown a lot bigger and fatter. Your pictures look fine in FORTUNE. You’ll get some copies of the magazine soon. They were mailed the 25th of 26th of May. I am also sending you a catalogue of Thomas Benton’s show, and some reproductions in color of modern paintings issued by the Museum. I shall also send you FORTUNE’s issue on New York City (coming out in a month) which has some excellent reproductions of modern American painters who have painted New York subjects. For your library of modern painting. Saudades, Florence Horn jh