Letter from Jos Hessel, Cannes, to Paul Rosenberg, 1941 March 19 : autograph manuscript signed.

Informing him that although it was Gaston Bernheim-Jeune who was seriously ill, it is his brother (Josse Bernheim) who died suddenly in Lyon. At the same time, Desportes, who was either taking care of their house or running their business in Paris, also died. The packages (see later laters) sent by Rosenberg never arrived. Hessel would like sweets and soap. He speaks of the impossibility of having authorization from the Administration des Beaux-Arts to have Rosenberg sell some of some of his paintings (that he had sent to the U.S. and Argentina). He asks Rosenberg to hold onto them. It appears that business is good in Paris, especially for older paintings. However, the money buyers use to purchase them is worthless. Hessel tells Rosenberg that he does not believe that the paintings he left in France have been lost (seized and that he's sure he'll get them back. Not so for the buildings (probably his house and gallery)). As for Hessel, he had thought it wise to have all of the works in his Paris gallery sent to his home at the Chateau des Clayes, and then everything was seized from there. Hessel has lost 22 pounds.