Letter from Charles Payen of Caen to Dr. Waagen regarding the sale price of a copy of Perugino's 'Marriage of the Virgin' by the French painter Lavieille.

Payen explains that although Prince Albert had agreed to pay the original price of 1,000 francs for the copy of Perugino's 'Marriage of the Virgin', his offer to pay the same amount, including packing costs, now that the painting is to be auctioned, is not acceptable because it does not take account of the auctioneer's commission, which would be 100 francs. In order to keep the Prince's outlay within 1,000 francs, the picture would have to be offered at auction for 850 or 860 francs, which would certainly attract other buyers, as well as providing a lesser sum for Payen's ward, the painter's son. Payen regrets that the Prince did not specify 1,000 francs as his bid, plus 100 for the commission; Payen himself would have paid the packing costs. Meanwhile, Monsieur Guillard awaits instructions.

A note by Becker on the letter (on the second page, on which Waagen wrote his covering letter, see VIC/ADDA10/85/212) records his reply to Payen that Prince Albert has agreed to pay 1100 francs for the painting.

Related Material: For related correspondence, see VIC/ADDA10/85/212.