Pierre-Auguste Renoir ALS Announcing Plans To Delay Children's Portrait Because of Models' Tan!
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
n.p., n.d. but ca. 1880s
Pierre-Auguste Renoir ALS Announcing Plans To Delay Children's Portrait Because of Models' Tan!
ALS
A 2pp autograph letter in French twice signed by Impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), the first time as "Renoir" on the last page; and the second time as "R" at the postscript. N.d. but probably ca. 1880s. N.p. but perhaps Louveciennes, France. Inscribed on watermarked laid bifold paper. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds. Scattered minor foxing especially along the horizontal crease. Isolated pencil notations and margin notes by a former collector. Else near fine. 4.375" x 7.125." Accompanied by a black and white matte finish photograph of an elderly Renoir smoking a pipe. Isolated foxing, slight curling, and pencil inscriptions and mounting traces on the reverse. 4.875" x 6.625."
We strongly suspect that Renoir wrote this letter to Paul-Antoine Bérard (1833-1905), his patron and close friend. Bérard was a wealthy banker, financial adviser, and diplomat, and well-connected socially. Renoir completed several commissions for Bérard, including a portrait of his friend Bérard in 1880, and portraits of Bérard's three daughters in 1884. The artist also completed large-scale paintings and smaller-scale decorative murals for the Château de Wargemont, Bérard's residence in Normandy, France. Renoir's letter inquires politely into Madame Bérard's eye complaint and expressly sends his best regards to his former models, Bérard's children.
Renoir's letter to Bérard is full of personal updates and artistic asides. He informs Bérard of his immediate travel plans: he will not go to see "Monsieur Haviland" and will instead stay with his widowed mother, Marguerite Merlet Renoit (1807-1896). This was an important decision on Renoir's part, since declining an invitation from a potential patron was risky. Charles Édouard Haviland (1839-1921) was an American expatriate living in France to oversee the family business, Haviland & Co. The firm, established by Charles's father in the late 1830s/early 1840s, specialized in importing and exporting fine French porcelain, especially Limoges. Haviland & Co. eventually manufactured their own china.
Renoir painted a portrait of Charles Édouard Haviland's son Paul Haviland in 1884. "Portrait of Paul Haviland" is currently in the collection of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri.
Renoir mentions his current work in progress, an unspecified portrait of Haviland's children. The artist has planned a very specific timeline in which to complete the portrait, taking into account his sitter's complexions!
Translated in full, with punctuation silently added to improve clarity:
"My dear friend,
I am not going to Haviland's. I am going to stay at Louveciennes at my mother's, who is not doing well at this particular moment, and I will go after finishing the children's portraits at a time when there won't be anybody around, towards the month of October or at the end of September. Monsieur Havilland [sic] told me that they are quite black in complexion [tanned] (from the return from the Midi), for outside of this moment I have believed it necessary to delay the pose to this winter.
I hesitated a lot before refusing the amiable invitation which Mr Haviland proffered to me; that is why I have so delayed giving you my news…
I haven't seen Deudon and I don't know where he is, do you have any news for us?...
There it is, my dear friend, all my news. See you soon and a thousand best wishes to the children.
Best,
Renoir
Have you had rain? Here it didn't rain too badly. I hope that you will have had the same.
R.
You should have received watch and shoes a long time ago, I think."
Renoir also mentions a mutual acquaintance, Charles-Henri Deudon (1832-1914), a French art collector who preferred Impressio
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Pierre-Auguste Renoir
n.p., n.d. but ca. 1880s
Pierre-Auguste Renoir ALS Announcing Plans To Delay Children's Portrait Because of Models' Tan!
ALS
A 2pp autograph letter in French twice signed by Impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), the first time as "Renoir" on the last page; and the second time as "R" at the postscript. N.d. but probably ca. 1880s. N.p. but perhaps Louveciennes, France. Inscribed on watermarked laid bifold paper. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds. Scattered minor foxing especially along the horizontal crease. Isolated pencil notations and margin notes by a former collector. Else near fine. 4.375" x 7.125." Accompanied by a black and white matte finish photograph of an elderly Renoir smoking a pipe. Isolated foxing, slight curling, and pencil inscriptions and mounting traces on the reverse. 4.875" x 6.625."
We strongly suspect that Renoir wrote this letter to Paul-Antoine Bérard (1833-1905), his patron and close friend. Bérard was a wealthy banker, financial adviser, and diplomat, and well-connected socially. Renoir completed several commissions for Bérard, including a portrait of his friend Bérard in 1880, and portraits of Bérard's three daughters in 1884. The artist also completed large-scale paintings and smaller-scale decorative murals for the Château de Wargemont, Bérard's residence in Normandy, France. Renoir's letter inquires politely into Madame Bérard's eye complaint and expressly sends his best regards to his former models, Bérard's children.
Renoir's letter to Bérard is full of personal updates and artistic asides. He informs Bérard of his immediate travel plans: he will not go to see "Monsieur Haviland" and will instead stay with his widowed mother, Marguerite Merlet Renoit (1807-1896). This was an important decision on Renoir's part, since declining an invitation from a potential patron was risky. Charles Édouard Haviland (1839-1921) was an American expatriate living in France to oversee the family business, Haviland & Co. The firm, established by Charles's father in the late 1830s/early 1840s, specialized in importing and exporting fine French porcelain, especially Limoges. Haviland & Co. eventually manufactured their own china.
Renoir painted a portrait of Charles Édouard Haviland's son Paul Haviland in 1884. "Portrait of Paul Haviland" is currently in the collection of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri.
Renoir mentions his current work in progress, an unspecified portrait of Haviland's children. The artist has planned a very specific timeline in which to complete the portrait, taking into account his sitter's complexions!
Translated in full, with punctuation silently added to improve clarity:
"My dear friend,
I am not going to Haviland's. I am going to stay at Louveciennes at my mother's, who is not doing well at this particular moment, and I will go after finishing the children's portraits at a time when there won't be anybody around, towards the month of October or at the end of September. Monsieur Havilland [sic] told me that they are quite black in complexion [tanned] (from the return from the Midi), for outside of this moment I have believed it necessary to delay the pose to this winter.
I hesitated a lot before refusing the amiable invitation which Mr Haviland proffered to me; that is why I have so delayed giving you my news…
I haven't seen Deudon and I don't know where he is, do you have any news for us?...
There it is, my dear friend, all my news. See you soon and a thousand best wishes to the children.
Best,
Renoir
Have you had rain? Here it didn't rain too badly. I hope that you will have had the same.
R.
You should have received watch and shoes a long time ago, I think."
Renoir also mentions a mutual acquaintance, Charles-Henri Deudon (1832-1914), a French art collector who preferred Impressio
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Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
