130

LUCE, MAXIMILIEN. Illustrated Autograph Letter Signed, "Luce," with three small watercolor drawings, to [caricaturist Henri-Charles?] O

EXPLORATORY SKETCHES: "I HOPE TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THEM FOR PAINTINGS" LUCE, MAXIMILIEN. Illustrated Autograph Letter Signed, "Luce," with three small watercolor drawings, to [caricaturist Henri-Charles?] Oulevay, in French, expressing outrage at the prison sentence of a revolutionary, calling the Versaillais who condemned him cowardly, imagining that Honoré Daumier would have created a beautiful drawing about a ceremony celebrating the 100th anniversary of Daumer's birth, complaining of the weather, sending studies [the illustrations], and praising both Paul-Louis Courier's letters and his translation of The Pastoral of Longus or Daphnis and Chloé. The drawings, three sketches on third page, a landscape reflected in a lake, and two scenes with small groups of figures, each apparently showing a bather reclining near a tree, 3¼x5½; 2¾x2½; 2¼x2¾ inches. 3 pages, 8vo, written on folded sheet; leaves nearly separated at vertical center fold, moderate even toning overall, some chipping at upper edge (without loss to text or drawings), horizontal fold. Np, circa 1908

". . . Don't you find what is happening funny and gloomy at the same time. . . . I learn from the newspapers of the condemnation to three years in prison of a revolutionary who simply asked the soldiers not to shoot--at Draveil. It is true that he was tried at Versailles, and these good Versaillais have not changed much since '71--they are the same good, cowardly and ferocious patriots.
"The funny note is given by the man . . . praising Daumier about the latter's centenary--what a laugh the old man would have if he could see and hear that! He, the creator of Rue Transnonain, of The Legislative Belly and of Robert Macaire--what a beautiful drawing he could make on that.
"All this is quite ridiculous and it is regrettable that there is no Daumier to immortalize Clemenceau. . . .
"Anyway, painting always helps one forget all this filth a little.
"I work as much as possible. The weather is not very good; little rain, but wind . . . . It is dry and as this country is very green it does not lend itself well to painting. I make studies, of women . . . bathing--I hope to get something out of them for paintings. I am sending you some sketches ['croquetons'] which will give you an idea of what I want to do.
"This evening I read some Paul L[ouis] Courier, the Pastoral of Longus and his correspondence--what a marvelous writer; his letters are really amusing and seem to me to be superior literature. I think that your collection will continue to grow. . . ."

  • Provenance:

    ". . . Don't you find what is happening funny and gloomy at the same time. . . . I learn from the newspapers of the condemnation to three years in prison of a revolutionary who simply asked the soldiers not to shoot--at Draveil. It is true that he was tried at Versailles, and these good Versaillais have not changed much since '71--they are the same good, cowardly and ferocious patriots.
    "The funny note is given by the man . . . praising Daumier about the latter's centenary--what a laugh the old man would have if he could see and hear that! He, the creator of Rue Transnonain, of The Legislative Belly and of Robert Macaire--what a beautiful drawing he could make on that.
    "All this is quite ridiculous and it is regrettable that there is no Daumier to immortalize Clemenceau. . . .
    "Anyway, painting always helps one forget all this filth a little.
    "I work as much as possible. The weather is not very good; little rain, but wind . . . . It is dry and as this country is very green it does not lend itself well to painting. I make studies, of women . . . bathing--I hope to get something out of them for paintings. I am sending you some sketches ['croquetons'] which will give you an idea of what I want to do.
    "This evening I read some Paul L[ouis] Courier, the Pastoral of Longus and his correspondence--what a marvelous writer; his letters are really amusing and seem to me to be superior literature. I think that your collection will continue to grow. . . ."
  • Condition:
    Please contact the Specialist for the auction to request a condition report.

    Condition reports and additional images are provided as a courtesy and should be used by you to aid in the formation of your own opinion regarding condition. All material is sold subject to Swann's standard Terms and Conditions of Sale as published in our catalogues and posted on our website, and include the following terms: (1) all property is sold "as-is"; and (2) works cannot be returned on the basis of condition.

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April 10, 2025 12:00 PM EDT
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