Claude Monet (1840.1926)

Autograph letter signed to his friend the art critic, Gustave Geffroy.

Three pages in-8° in purple ink. Autograph envelope.

Giverny. June 29, 1891.

« This evocation of Whistler's nightlife is an exquisite find. »

Beautiful letter from the Master of Impressionism rejoicing at the article published by Geffroy on the American painter James Whistler and at the same time deploring that the article was illustrated with a disastrous portrait created by Théodore Duret. He ends his letter by railing against the bad weather which deprives him of painting.

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“Dear friend, Although your letter remained unanswered, I want to tell you the pleasure your article on Whistler caused me . The beginning especially is delicious. This arrival, this evocation of Whistler nightlife is an exquisite find . Please accept all my compliments. But what is disastrous is the portrait of [Théodore] Duret, and it is very unfortunate that your article appeared because you would certainly have had a delicious drawing [by Whistler] .

He (Whistler) has just written to me at length on this subject, asking you to wait because he would like to do something very good for you, asking me to excuse him to you. Finally, I will show you his letter if you ever come to Giverny. In short, I'm sure that as I know him, he will be sorry and perhaps furious about this bad reproduction. This, dear friend, is what I had to say to you while waiting for you to give a sign of existence. Your friend Claude Monet.

I am absolutely discouraged by the weather, impossible to work, despite lots of beautiful things, the weather is only nicer than winter. »

 

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1 Gustave Geffroy devoted a long article to the career and works of Whistler, in La Justice .

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