(Fine Arts) – Alexandre DUMAS, Jr. A collection of 16...
(Fine Arts) – Alexandre DUMAS, Jr. A collection 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’ galleries 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 most notable 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 sky, respectfully witnessing this transfer)… I also have an album filled with pencil and red chalk drawings that he had given to Troyon.” Since Tassaëet was granted only a five-year burial plot and the Beaux-Arts had not thought to provide him with a tomb, “I bought a plot in Montparnasse and had the remains of that poor, great painter moved there….” – On a portrait of Marie Duplessis: “If the one you have has no camellias, it’s likely to be authentic, since the story about 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 of them…” – “Try to get the government to buy the statue of St. Vidal. It’s very good and has been very well received…” – “Well, what about Cambos?... When will you come, if only to apologize for having written ‘Lepère’ instead of ‘Cambos’… Cambos should have received the cross as early as last year…“ – He saw at Madame de Nittis’s “in her gallery a fireplace and a doorframe, both in marble, in the most beautiful Renaissance style… Perhaps this would be an opportunity for Mr. de Rothschild to acquire two very beautiful 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 lost the first one and have been paying ever since… I even treated myself to Chenu’s *La Neige*…” – “I’m writing to Jacquet to congratulate him. You’re truly becoming an angel, but you won’t be one completely until 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 going to do. You’re the only one who can arrange for the Observatory to lend him these items…”
Enclosed:
Invitation card for the unveiling of the monument to Alexandre Dumas, Jr., by René de Saint-Marceaux. June 12, 1906. Upper left corner missing
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
(Fine Arts) – Alexandre DUMAS, Jr. A collection 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’ galleries 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 most notable 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 sky, respectfully witnessing this transfer)… I also have an album filled with pencil and red chalk drawings that he had given to Troyon.” Since Tassaëet was granted only a five-year burial plot and the Beaux-Arts had not thought to provide him with a tomb, “I bought a plot in Montparnasse and had the remains of that poor, great painter moved there….” – On a portrait of Marie Duplessis: “If the one you have has no camellias, it’s likely to be authentic, since the story about 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 of them…” – “Try to get the government to buy the statue of St. Vidal. It’s very good and has been very well received…” – “Well, what about Cambos?... When will you come, if only to apologize for having written ‘Lepère’ instead of ‘Cambos’… Cambos should have received the cross as early as last year…“ – He saw at Madame de Nittis’s “in her gallery a fireplace and a doorframe, both in marble, in the most beautiful Renaissance style… Perhaps this would be an opportunity for Mr. de Rothschild to acquire two very beautiful 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 lost the first one and have been paying ever since… I even treated myself to Chenu’s *La Neige*…” – “I’m writing to Jacquet to congratulate him. You’re truly becoming an angel, but you won’t be one completely until 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 going to do. You’re the only one who can arrange for the Observatory to lend him these items…”
Enclosed:
Invitation card for the unveiling of the monument to Alexandre Dumas, Jr., by René de Saint-Marceaux. June 12, 1906. Upper left corner missing
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
