ERNST MAX (1891-1976). Lot n° 84

L.A.S. "Max Ernst", Paris 6 October 1966, to Varian FRY; 1 page in-4 at address 19, rue de Lille; in English. To the founder of the American Relief Committee in Marseille. [Varian FRY (1907-1967), American journalist, founded the American Relief Committee in Marseilles in 1940, which helped thousands of refugees, Jews, anti-Nazis, and Surrealists, including Max Ernst, to leave Europe]. The letter is numbered in six points (from first to sixth), probably in response to a request or questionnaire from Varian Fry. First, a thousand thanks to Varian and Bénéditte [Daniel Bénédite (1912-1990), a Resistance fighter who assisted and succeeded Varian Fry, and lived at the Villa Air-Bel with the refugee Surrealists in Marseille] for their "affidavits [attestations]. They are first class documents"... Secondly, he is happy to learn of his recovery; from experience, he knows that it is above all a question of patience: "as I myself have been through the same experience not long ago, I knew, that after the first shock itw as only a question of patience". He'll get better and better... Thirdly, he did not receive an answer from Picasso. Fourthly, he was afraid, reading Annette's letter, that Varian would make a terrible mistake, at the first shock. He is relieved since the letter received today. M.Th. was certainly his "gardan angel"... Fifthly, to hell with Otto DIX ("to hell with Dix"). Sixth, that he take good care of himself and do not forget that you have a good friend named Max Ernst.