Marie LAURENCIN – Set of 5 signed autograph letters.

Marie Laurencin (1883.1956)

A set of 5 autograph letters signed to Count François de Gouy d'Arcy

Eight pages in-4° and one page in-12° (with an autograph envelope).

Paris. Ste Marie au Bosc. Bagnoles-de-l'Orne. 1931

Very nice friendly correspondence

1/ “Dear François, eight days ago I learned what you told me in your letter, and I had a feeling you were going to write to me.  Our old friendship-love is all that remains , especially now when stupidity reigns supreme. I've finally settled completely into my life with my magnificent Airedale Dimah, hence the emotions-love-serious troubles. She's become a guard dog and is having a phantom pregnancy. I see few people. Tomorrow the Jouhandeaus will be increasingly wild and persecuted. Sir Joseph Daveen's daughter is getting married and asked for Marie Laurencin dolls as a wedding gift. Every week I go to Champrosay—I love mowing the grass and running the lawnmower. Now, dear François, here's the holiday plan: at the end of July, two or three days in August, a short stay with the Gossets.” On the 5th, I leave for the spa at Bagnoles with my maid, little Suzanne, and during the first two weeks of September I will be available to anyone who wants me , with or without Suzanne, with or without the dog. I send you my love, François and Russell, your Marie. Otto is in Paris – he comes to Champrosay – always charming.

2/ "Dear François, I came to see you, perhaps a little earlier, I'm leaving now – and I send you my warmest regards. Your old fiancée, Marie."

3/ "My dear François, How kind of you to have thought of me, and this lovely gift multiplied by twelve! I had a very unpleasant kind of knee pain and two days without moving from my bed. To recover fully, I took the road to Normandy, the Pays de Caux. The sea – the wind – and also a delightful stay at Monsieur Gosset's. It's curious how invigorating this damp air becomes, and then down below there's the sea, England opposite, one is well surrounded. I am still in bed, lying down – thinking of my friends . I have just written to Violette and you, my dear François. Perhaps we don't see each other often, but what does that mean? Violette's words are unforgettable, and you are, like my dear Otto, the friends of my dreams . I kiss you tenderly, my François, and also Russell. Your Marie."

4/“My dear François, I gave your letter to Otto to read, and he promised to write to you. He’s currently living in Paris with a young friend from Bremen, and very much in plaster casts, which goes together. I still believe in the Blue Period all by myself—I call it variations on The Princess of Clèves. I’m leaving now by car for the Gossets’ near Étretat. I’ll be back Monday evening and Wednesday, August 5th, in Bagnoles de l’Orne. Here’s my address… I’m going with my maid, and that way I avoid the Grand-Hôtel where I was so bored, and above all, she’ll make me a cup of coffee herself, which is a joy. But why don’t you come to Bagnoles? Comfort—circulation. Anyway, write to me, François. I don’t care much for Bérard’s painting, but he has a certain charm, especially with Boris. I embrace you affectionately, my old friends. Your Marie.” The other evening, dinner at the Jouhandeaus'. They talked about you. Carija, I adore her. She has great intuition and predicts communism without any fanfare – Farewell Variations. Write to me, even just a short note so we can always stay in touch (Your Marie)

5/ "My dear François, Here I am in Bagnoles. I had a severe liver attack at the Gossets', migraine, etc., and here they're treating me more for that than for my bowling pins. I still have pain in my side. Serene mood. It's raining. I'm watching the rain fall. I'm sewing. I think Marie's career will end with pajamas for all of you, extraordinary handmade work. Mr. Paul Rosenberg and his family are traveling in northern Europe – Hispano-New – fortunately they'll end up in the south. I'm staying here, François, until August 30th. Write to me. Yesterday, while walking, I admired a charming little house. The building is unremarkable, dating from 1820, but leaning against the wall between the windows and the door – four cypress trees. No one there. A dog with large ears who was afraid of a piece of wood. The charm – the reverie – the sweet silence of this dwelling. To you, to Russel, your Marie. I received your telegram." »

François de Gouy d'Arsy (1883-1941), an aristocrat without a profession, led a life of leisure which he shared with the American painter Russell Greeley (1878-1956) during the first half of the twentieth century. Together, they lived in Paris on the rue de Condé, in Piquey on the Arcachon Bay, and at the Château de Clavary in Auribeau-sur-Siagne near Grasse, where Pablo Picasso painted his portrait in 1925.