The Prussian Minister of Education and Fine Arts, Dr. Grimme, has sent a letter to Professor Max Liebermann, the great Jewish painter, on his retirement from the presidency of the Berlin Academy of Arts, which he has held since the establishment of the Republic.
As you have decided to lay down your office as President of the Academy of Art at the end of your present term of office, the Minister writes, I feel that I must immediately express to you a word of gratitude and of admiration. I want it to be a word of personal tribute, for when your retirement enters into effect there will be opportunity enough to pay official tribute to your untiring work as President of the Academy.
Your decision is of immense significance because it brings to a close an epoch in the life of the Academy. You may look forward with satisfaction and with pride to the verdict of history, for in the 12 years of your presidency the Academy has made big strides forward, and has regained its dominant position in German art life. Under your leadership the exhibitions of the Academy have again become the centre of interest in German art life, and have won the admiring attention of the art world. The German people have to thank you for the fact that these exhibitions are again a serious factor in the cultural life of our nation, and have added to Germany’s artistic prestige in the world. I feel that I must thank you for this, particularly since I have learned in our personal contacts to respect and to honour you not only officially as the Minister responsible for this Department, but as a man for whom I have the greatest admiration.
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