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Embassy of the United States of America. Office of the Legal Attache United States Embassy Moscow, Russia b3 b7E File No. Your File No. 204 18 October 2000 Federal Security Service RE: THEFT OF RUSSIAN ART BY KONSTANTIN MAKOVSKY Dear Sir, With regard to your letter dated August 23, 2000, concerning the possible theft of an oil-on-canvas painting by the artist KONSTANTIN MAKOVSKY, our San Francisco office has contacted the M.H. DeYoung Memorial Museum in San Francisco, California, in an effort to ascertain the provenance of the questioned painting. The curators of the museum were unable to identify the painting based on the limited description provided in your letter, i.e. "a woman against the background of a wide open door." In order to determine whether or not the painting was once in the possession of the museum, they have requested a. more detailed description of the work, and if possible, a photograph. This information should allow the. museum to answer the questions posed in your original letter.. AM REQUEST OF THE FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICE The FSB is requested to provide this office with a detailed description of the oil-on-canvas painting by KONSTANTIN MAKOVSKY bearing a label on the reverse of the canvas stating, "M.H./De Young Memorial Museum. San Francisco. Konstantin Makovsky, Russian, 1839-1915." If possibie, a photograph of the painting would be very heIpful in assisting the museum in determining if the painting was once a part of their collection. Thank you for your continued assistance. b6 Sincerely. b7C Legal Attache By: Assistant Legal Attache b3 b6 b7C b7E 292MAVO1,LTR