Leducq Maison de Ventes aux enchères
156
-
(Fine Arts) – Alexandre DUMAS the Younger.
See original version (French)
156
-
(Fine Arts) – Alexandre DUMAS the Younger.
See original version (French)
Estimate €200 - €300
Voluntary lot
Description
(Fine Arts) – Alexandre DUMAS the Younger. Set of 16 signed autograph letters, to various correspondents, concerning artists, Dumas’s purchases or sales, and intercessions… 17 pp. in-12, 19 pp. in-8
– To Mr Souty: ‘The only painting that appeared at one of your colleagues’ is the large Rousseau. I gave it to my father. So I’m keeping it. But you would be very kind to take back the other two…’
– “I have 40 Tassaerts plus his self-portrait, as beautiful as the finest Géricault. The main ones are *The Temptation of St Hilarion*… The Departure of Napoleon’s Ashes (a painting of extraordinary composition and execution, with all the kings of France arrayed in the heavens, respectfully witnessing this transfer)… I also have an album full of pencil and red chalk drawings which he had given to Troyon. ’ As Tassaëet had been granted only a five-year lease and the Beaux-Arts had not thought to provide him with a grave, ‘I bought a plot in Montparnasse and had the remains of that poor, great painter transferred there…’. – On a portrait of Marie Duplessis: ‘If the one you own has no camellias, it is likely to be authentic, as the story of the camellias was invented by me after the heroine’s death… ” – “Try to get Nieuwerkerke to buy Chintreuil’s painting No. 509 – The Dawn. It’s an excellent painting. You ask me why I don’t buy it myself? Because I already have three…” – “Try to get the State to buy the statue of St Vidal. It’s very good and it’s proving very popular…” – “Well, what about Cambos?... When are you coming, if only to apologise for having written ‘Lepère’ instead of ‘Cambos’… It was already last year that Cambos should have been awarded the Cross…’ – He saw at Madame de Nittis’s ‘in her gallery a mantelpiece and a door frame, both in marble, in the finest Renaissance style… Perhaps this would be an opportunity for Mr de Rothschild to acquire two very fine pieces…’ – ‘I had recommended a man to you for a position as an office clerk at the Beaux-Arts or the Luxembourg… ” – “… Do you still have a ticket to give me for the art exhibition? I’ve lost the first one and have been paying ever since… I’ve even treated myself to Chenu’s *La Neige*…” – “I’m writing to Jacquet to congratulate him. You’re truly becoming an angel, but you’ll only be one completely if you manage to get someone to buy Léon’s painting.” – To a “dear Bertrand. Vollon needs some old astronomical instruments – spheres, telescopes, etc. – for a painting he’s about to do. You’re the only one who can arrange for the Observatory to lend him these…”
Enclosed:
Invitation card for the unveiling of the monument to Alexandre Dumas the Younger by René de Saint-Marceaux. 12 June 1906. Upper left corner missing
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like