Charles VACQUERIE – Autographed letter signed to his mother.

Charles VACQUERIE (1817-1843)

Autographed letter signed to his mother.

One and a half pages, quarto, address, postmark

No place [Le Havre], Monday, July 6 [1840]

Views of Villequier by Raymond Noël Esbrat for the Vacquerie family.

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« My dearest mother, you know that when I was in Villequier , I said that Mr. Esbrat would be back to paint several watercolors that he was to leave for you, Papa, and me. You didn't say anything to me about it, and as agreed, Esbrat, after finishing the painting Mr. Regnault commissioned, was to leave for Villequier to paint his pictures. Arsène, to whom I spoke about it yesterday, took me aside and told me that she thought I had been wrong to arrange it this way, because Papa had already complained about our stay in Villequier last time and wouldn't be happy. I'm writing to ask you to tell me if this will really bother Papa; I'm very keen not to do anything that might upset him, and since nothing is yet definitively decided, I could easily, under one pretext or another, arrange things so that Esbrat doesn't go to Villequier.

I received a letter yesterday from Auguste announcing his departure from Paris next Saturday or Sunday. He doesn't yet know if Mr. Boulanger will be coming with him. This situation prompts me to ask you to tell me honestly whether Esbrat's trip to Villequier will inconvenience you or Papa in the slightest. I'm not at all keen on him going, and since he himself is only doing it to please us by letting us see Villequier, it will be very easy to arrange. Goodbye, my dear mother, give Papa a kiss for me and reply immediately so that I can make the necessary arrangements. Arsène and his children are well. Mr. Lefèvre's gardener is getting married today; all the servants are going to the wedding. Please try to reply by return mail. I kiss you with all my heart. Your loving son, Ch. Vacquerie, July 6th

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Shipowner in Le Havre in the company run by his father, Charles Vacquerie (1817-1843) was in love with Léopoldine Hugo, the poet's eldest daughter, since he had met her in Villequier in 1838. The two young people married on February 15, 1843: they were to drown shortly afterwards in the Seine at Villequier, on September 4, 1843.

The painter invited to the Vacquerie family estate was Raymond Noël Esbrat (1809-1856).