| Content | František Martinů asks Karel Šebánek for advice on the budget of a large contract for the restoration of about 40 Baroque paintings with an area of about 120m2, which FM has received. He hasn't done such work for years, is not familiar with prices and doesn't want to be fooled. He was hoping that KS had some painters he knew from the Arts Council who could advise on the pricing of this work.
It is one large altarpiece measuring 7x3'50 m (24.50m2) [inscription in another hand: "15,000/4,000,-"],
Four smaller altarpieces 3x1.60m = (total 21m2) [handwritten entry: "3,000 3/1,000 each"]
Eleven portraits of the Apostles approx. 1m2, 11m2 [inscription in another hand: "600- /500,-
Ten paintings of the cycle of the life of Christ 2x1,30m ; 26m2 [inscription in another hand: "2500,- /1500,- each"]
Fourteen paintings of the Stations of the Cross of approximately the same dimensions ; 26m2 [inscription in another hand: "2.500,- / 1.500-,"]
The paintings are well painted, baroque and faded; all of them may need to have the old varnish removed. The work would help FM a lot, but he doesn't like to say too little, and if he says too much, he won't get the commission. He would be very happy if KS could help him with this, FM has no one in Prague to approach, Jan Zrzavý would certainly be willing, but he would probably need a few months to sort it out and FM needs to make an offer soon. He can't go to Prague himself because Karolina Martinů is very ill and FM is afraid to leave home even for a day. They have no news [from Bohuslav Martinů].
On the other side of the double sheet there are notes in the same hand as the entries directly in the letter, numbers, and on the other half there are specific restoration tasks : 'Rentoil, reinforce margins, iron, retouch and engraving'. |