Eugène BOUDIN was glad not to associate with the Impressionists.

Eugène BOUDIN (1824.1898)

Autographed letter signed to the American painter Frederic Porter Vinton.  

Three octavo pages. Tiny tear at the central fold.

Deauville. August 25, 1890.

"You won't find a single Impressionist here – thankfully."

Superb letter from Boudin inviting the American painter to join him in Deauville, while denouncing the Impressionists.

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"Dear Mr. Vinton, I would have been very sorry to delay replying to your kind letter, despite the pleasure it gave me. For the past two weeks I have had so many troubles. Travel; and then, to top it all off, a rheumatic chill that has robbed me of all energy and kept me in bed for several days. I wanted to write to you after my shopping trip, to let you know that you will find in Deauville everything you could possibly desire in terms of housing at the most reasonable prices. I would have done so were it not for this attack, from which I have fortunately recovered, but perhaps you have already changed your plans."

In any case, we would be happy to have you share our solitude. I say solitude—relative solitude—because apart from a modest colleague who sometimes keeps us company, we hardly know the locals, and you would be most welcome if you decided to come and spend a few weeks here. However, I wouldn't dare promise you a very favorable season. For the past two weeks, the weather has been unbearable. Wind, rain, and even cold; we're suffering all the miseries of the weather. Perhaps that's a reason to hope for better in September! But what a year!

You won't find a single Impressionist here—thankfully —but it's so sprawling! It's like an oil slick. We'll talk about all that if you come, but don't worry about accommodation. You might even find a landlady who could cook and clean for you, if that suits you. Life here is quite easy. My only concern is the distance from the countryside… but then again, transportation is very convenient. (…) The surrounding countryside is very beautiful, if that kind of scenery appeals to you .

We will discuss the paintings you mentioned. At the moment, I am quite behind schedule with my work. Alas, time passes so quickly, so very quickly . Please convey our respects to Madame Vinton. (…) If you decide to come and spend a few weeks here, please write to us. (…) We will look for a suitable house for Madame Vinton. Your devoted friend, E. Boudin .

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Boudin's teasing comment about the Impressionist artists in the letter is interesting. Indeed, while Boudin exhibited his work at the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874, he never considered himself part of the movement. The same is true for Frederic Porter Vinton (1846–1911). Although his work is often perceived as Impressionist, Vinton did not identify himself with this artistic movement.

The Vintons met Eugène Boudin, Camille Pissarro, and Alfred Sisley during their eighteen-month trip to Europe in 1889–1890. Vinton had visited France, Italy, Holland, and England, studying the work of artists in each country. During the Vintons' trip, Boudin dedicated three paintings to Vinton. Later, Vinton purchased a large group of Boudin's paintings offered for sale at the Chase Gallery in Boston.

We know of a beach scene painted by Boudin in 1890 entitled Trouville, beach scene signed and dedicated " to Madame Vinton Souvenir 1890 Trouville "