Antoine Bourdelle draws her heraklès archer in a temple.

Antoine BOURDELLE (1861.1929)

Autograph letter signed to the architect Alfred Rome.

Two large in-4 ° pages illustrated by its masterpiece Héraklès Archer .

Slight traces of adhesive on the back.

Autograph envelope laminated on paper.

[Paris] June 3, 1926.

“It is my great Heraklès (bronze) who in a small temple traced by me is erected. »»

Extraordinary illustrated letter from the French sculptor representing his heraklès Archer in a colonnades temple inaugurated in the city of Toulouse.

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"Dear Rome friends. Friend Alfred Rome. I have an echo of your appointment in the Legion of Honor. We are very very happy, for your work and for joy in your house.

In Toulouse recently, on May 16, 100 sports companies paraded in front of the 1st ^monument to high sports in France and it is my Grand Héraklès (bronze) which in a small temple traced by me is erected at the threshold of the Toulouse stadium.

Near the Heraklès, a stele carries in a small bronze relief embedded the head of a young sportsman who died in war. This cast concrete temple is without roof. This would not exceed 60 thousand francs if one could establish a replica stadium with a Grenoble stadium. There would be room on the two steles for 2 or 4 athletes. If you have lost it in war. The ceremonies are very moving. I will make some modifications to the temple, for example, we would put it on several steps! Toulouse being the plain - and Grenoble, the mountain! We did the call of the dead in Toulouse. A stake of soldiers, the mayor, the prefect, a general. 100 sports companies in the evening. 300 covers banquet.

If in Grenoble you have a stadium, be careful not to move anything and if you can show this, only reveal it after certainty, otherwise do not undertake anything. Be notified that the price of bronze is very increased and that would be better than at the museum . To all Rome conditions. Ant. Bourdelle. »»

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Heraklès Archer is certainly the most famous sculpture by Antoine Bourdelle. This notoriety was acquired from its first presentation, at the Salon of the National Society of Fine Arts in 1910. The work, the ancient hero pulling his arrows against the birds of Lake Stymphale. Several versions of this masterpiece are now kept around the world.

It was in 1925 and on the initiative of Paul Voivenel (1880,1975) that this version of Héraklès Archer was installed, in Toulouse, Square de l'Héraclès, in memory of all the athletes who died in combat during the First World War.

Voivenel, chairman of the rugby committee, had requested Bourdelle, born in Montauban and former student of the School of Fine Arts in Toulouse, so that the sculptor gave a copy of his Heraklès to the city of Toulouse. Bourdelle accepted this proposal, drawn the entire monument and agreed to sell this bronze sculpture at a cost price.