box00003_fld00005_bdl0001_doc0016_03000001.txt; Copy of a letter sent to Mr. J. F. Raffaelli, Paris, in answer to a letter sent by him to Mr. Carnegie, and forwarded through Mr. Frew to the Fine Arts Committee.
March 15. 1897
Mr. J. F. Raffaelli,
202 Rue de Courcelies, Paris, France.
Dear Sir:-
Your letter to Mr. Carnegie has been forwarded to me, this being in accordance with an established custom.
The blank form which you signed contained an exact statement in reference to the amount of money appropriated for the use of the Fine Arts Committee, from the total of $50,000. generously given by Mr. Carnegie to the Trustees. You are, therefore, in error in stating to Mr. Carnegie that I told you "fifty thousand dollars were at the disposal of the Committee for the purchase of pictures." This statement would have been at variance with the printed circular placed in your hand. Representation was not made to any painter other than that contained in the printed form.
While it was clearly the intention of the Committee to purchase such works as might be considered available, the Committee was not, under its invitation to contribute to the first annual exhibition, obliged to purchase.
The conditions governing in the awarding of medals were solely artistic. In the case of purchase, business considerations entered into each transaction. For instance, the price asked for a pictiire would be an important consideration. At the time your picture "Hotre Dame" hung in the Gallery, the Committee was offered a picture, painted by you, 'and which the members thought a more desirable work for the Gallery than the one exhibited, for six thousand francs: the price you placed upon "Notre Dame" was ten thousand francs.
The sole power to judge in the important matter of purchasing works for the permanent col-lection has been given to the Committee, and any communication which has for its object the sale of a work to the Department, should be addressed to the Fine Arts Committee.
This I am authorized to say on behalf of the Committee.
Very respectfully,
Director�
Carnegie Mellon University - Andrew Carnegie Online Archives
