Documents associated with: 87th exhibition, Ouvrages de peinture, sculpture, architecture, gravure et lithographie des artistes vivants, Palais des Champs Elysées, Paris, 1869
Record 3 of 3
System Number: 01088
Date: 21 March 1869
Author: Henri Fantin-Latour[1]
Place: [Paris]
Recipient: JW
Place: [London]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler F19
Document Type: ALS
21 Mars 69,
Mon cher Whistler
tu ne me reponds pas, tu n'envoie [sic] rien au Salon, tu ne me dis rien du Salon Anglais[2] Je viens de faire deux grandes esquisses[3] pour le salon ici comme celle que tu as et celle du tannhauser de Ionidès[4] j'ai été bien content d'avoir le courage d'aller jusqu'au bout et de me montrer dans ces choses. Je suis bien entrain a la Peinture. je regrette de ne pas te voir pour causer, ici rien de bien interessant seulement le salon est dit on très rempli de tableaux je crois que tout le monde envoie je n'ai rien vu de tout le monde que je connais, je n'avais pas le temps
J'ai reçu une lettre d'Edwards[5] qui me dit d'exposer a l'Academie - j'ai pensé que cela pourrait mettre utile pour en avoir d'autres a faire d'envoyer celles que j'ai faites l'année dernière - les 2 Natures Mortes[6] [p. 2] pour ton ami le docteur Hart[7] je compte sur toi pour lui demander si cela ne l'ennuirai pas de les donner pour le Salon il les enverrai chez Edwards 196 Piccadilly qui m'a dit vouloir se charger de les envoyer[,] il parait que c'est le 5 et 6 Avril prochain[,] j'en previens Edwards - ecris moi - a propos j'ai vu Legros[8] ici il n'a pas voulu me parler il etait avec un editeur qui achetait beaucoup de choses dans les Ateliers cela a fait de l'effet ici. ecris moi donc ce que tu fais et pourquoi tu n'a rien envoyé au Salon je ne comprends plus rien a ta vie Artistique -
adieu
H. Fantin.
11 Rue des Saints Pères.
This document is protected by copyright.
Translation:
My dear Whistler
You have not replied to me, you are sending nothing to the Salon, you tell me nothing about the English Salon[.] I have just done two large sketches for the salon here like the one you have and that of the tannhauser of Ionides[.] I was very happy to have the courage to see it through and to express myself in these works. My spirits are high when I paint. I miss meeting up with you to chat, here nothing interesting is happening[,] only the Salon is said to be very full of paintings[.] I think that everybody is sending [work] I did not see any of the people that I know, I had no time
I received a letter from Edwards telling me to exhibit at the Academy - I thought that it could be useful to me for having others to do[,] to send those that I did last year - the 2 Still Lifes [p. 2] for your friend Doctor Hart[.] I am counting on you to ask him if he would mind lending them for the Salon[.] he should send them to Edwards 196 Piccadilly who told me that he was willing to take care of their dispatch[.] it seems that it is on the 5th and 6th of this coming April[.] I am letting Edwards know about it - write to me - by the way I saw Legros here he did not want to talk to me he was with an editor who was buying many things in the studios[.] that has caused quite a stir here. So write to tell me what you are doing and why you sent nothing to the Salon [-] I can no longer fathom your Artistic life -
Farewell
H. Fantin.
Notes:
1. Henri Latour
Ignace-Henri-Jean-Théodore Fantin-Latour (1836-1904), artist [more].
2. Salon Anglais
101st Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Academy, London, 1869.
3. deux grandes esquisses
H. Fantin-Latour, Le Lever (z141) was exhibited, badly hung, and disliked even by Fantin-Latour's friends. It was at later destroyed. H. Fantin-Latour, Reflets d'Orient (FL.322) (z132) was rejected, and only two fragments, [z0325] and [z0326], survive. See Druick, Douglas and Michel Hoog, Fantin-Latour, Paris, 1982, cat. nos. 51-52.
4. tannhauser de Ionidès
H. Fantin-Latour, Tannhauser: Venusberg (FL.233) (z109) (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) was bought in 1864 by Alexander ('Aleco') Ionides (1840-1898), businessman [more]. It is 97.4 x 130.1 cm (see Druick, 1982, cat. no. 50, repr. pp. 41 and 161).
5. Edwards
Edwin Edwards (1823-1879), lawyer, painter and etcher [more].
6. 2 Natures Mortes
H. Fantin-Latour, Fruit and Flowers (FL.288) (z145) (private collection, Boston) and a second with the same title (H. Fantin-Latour, Fruit and Flowers (FL.289) (z146)) were exhibited at 101st Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Academy, London, 1869, cat. nos. 495, 500.
7. docteur Hart
Dr Hart, collector.
8. Legros
Alphonse Legros (1837-1911), painter, etcher and art teacher [more].