2 MARCH 1996, Page 28

For Paul

Sir: Mr Bernard gives us another letter (24 February) of the usual type: 'I am an intelli- gent, civilised, tolerant fellow, but I say that ratbag Johnson should be silenced.' Nevertheless, Mr Johnson's criticism of the Cdzanne hysteria was very astute: . in all the hundreds of thousands of breathless words published in the last week about Cdzanne's "masterpieces" it is nowhere explained why, precisely, they are worth admiring'.

Keith Stanfield

18 Quantock Gardens, London NW2 Po-