William BOUGUEREAU honored by the city of Bordeaux which acquired his art.

William BOUGUEREAU (1825.1905)

Autograph letter signed to Baron Sourget, at the Bordeaux School of Fine Arts.

Two pages in-8° on blue paper embossed with his initials. Paris. April 16, 1864.

“I am proud of the fact that you are willing to claim me as a Bordeaux painter. »

Superb letter from Bouguereau honored that the city of Bordeaux – which was the birthplace of his beginnings as an artist – acquired his work entitled Une bacchante.

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“Sir, I have doubly to thank you: first for the very kind report that you wrote to have my painting purchased by the municipal council , and then, for the letter which announces to me that the council voted for this acquisition for the sum of 6000 francs.

I am touched more than I can say by the statement of reasons for the report, and I am proud of the fact that you are willing to claim me as a Bordeaux painter : in fact, if La Rochelle is the place of my birth, it will never could have given me the education I found at the school in your town ; and I can also say it, nowhere have I received so many proofs of sympathy: also I am very happy, believe me if I was able to contribute to the brilliance of your school and it will not depend on my good desire to increase it further.

If I am grateful to the city of Bordeaux for what it has done for me, I am no less grateful to those who encourage me: it is so good to feel supported, supported by the wishes of your fellow citizens! I therefore owe thanks to you, particularly to you, Sir, to the Mayor who not only took the initiative for this acquisition but deigned to pay me a visit to Paris, to the members of the municipal council, to Messrs Scott and Charroppin, to all of you, in a word, who follow my efforts with so much interest and who applaud my successes with so much kindness. Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration, and my most sincere thanks. W. Bouguereau. »

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A bacchante (oil on canvas measuring 115 x 185, produced in 1862) was acquired by the city of Bordeaux during the Salon de la Société des Amis des Arts, on April 8, 1864. The work is today kept at the Musée des Fine Arts of the city.