Letter from Henri Matisse, Vence, to Paul Rosenberg, 1947 April 27 : autograph manuscript signed.

Informing Rosenberg that the painting that Rosenberg sent him a photo of is a complete fake intended to deceive, which he hopes he will tell his client. The painting must be destroyed. He doesn't know how things are done in the USA, but in France in such cases the work of art must be destroyed. He's returning the photo. He's back in Vence after 10 months in Paris, where he was detained by work. He did some tapestries for the Gobelins [tapestry manufactory]. He was also detained in Paris by the flu, complicated by injections of penicillin that gave him kidney problems. Now he's well again and will get back to work.