BERENSON BERNARD: (1865-1959) American art historian who specialised in the Renaissance, a major figure in the attribution of Old Masters. A.L.S., with his initials B. B., two pages, 8vo, Florence, Italy, 23rd December 1953, to Barbara Howes Smith. Berenson thanks his correspondent for her verses ('legible & intelligible - a rare treat nowadays!') and requests more news of what she has been doing in New York, and in particular regarding her fiction, further adding 'I still pretend to be at work & publish an occasional article or booklet. It keeps me from thinking too much of senility'. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Berenson and signed ('B. Berenson') by him in the return address to the verso. VG Barbara Howes (1914-1996) American poet, wife of William Jay Smith, himself a poet.