Letter from Henri Matisse, Nice, to Paul Rosenberg, 1940 February 25 : autograph manuscript signed.

Matisse says that the explanation Rosenberg gave him about the information that he needed is satisfactory, and he thanks him for it and for all the interest he shows for Matisse's torments. Matisse is well and working. His offer to appraise and divide his belongings in Nice was not found to be acceptable, and he will be obliged to accept Bellier's appraisal. He's not happy with the idea of Bellier coming to assess his furniture, but it will please his wife, who enjoys creating complications, that he respond to them as an honorable man. The important thing to him is that the painting be free from the stress of these last months. He can't decide whether or not to send Rosenberg photos of his paintings because he doesn't want Rosenberg to have any wrong ideas about them. Matisse wants to get the dividing up of his works done as soon as possible. Josse Bernheim said that he would be read at the end of February to handle the deal. However, Matisse insisted again that Madame D[uthuit] come to Nice to do the inventory with him, as a result of which Madame Matisse would be able to choose what she wanted. The dividing up of things in Paris can't take place until the spring, when Matisse returns to Paris and is feeling better. He is getting over the flu, and the doctor says he mustn't have a relapse. This was reported to Mme Matisse by his lawyer, and he's waiting for an answer. He fears he may need legal proof that he is unwell. Matisse says that he has everything that was transported from Nice when the war broke out, and it is not inventoried. It consists of drawings and African objects. He needs to be there when these numerous drawings are inventoried--they belong to him because he did them before the beginning of his and Mme Matisse's separation. He says he has a good lawyer. He's not sure that what Matisse painted after the subpoena belongs to him. He went to see a notaire designated by the court, who confirmed what the notaire in Paris said: that everything he did since the subpoena belonged to Matisse. There is no doubt. He hopes that Rosenberg understands that he wants to incur the least expense possible--for his family, not for him. He feels that he's being treated very badly by them. He loves them and can't hold a grudge against them--they're carried away by their anger and are jealous. Their husband and father [him] belongs entirely to them. He hopes that Rosenberg is not unhappy about the future of his ideas for exhibitions and that he is not encountering any serious obstacles.