Document associated with: [Claude Monet Exposition], Boussod, Valadon et Cie, Paris, 1888
Record 1 of 1
System Number: 11554
Date: [20 November 1891?][1]
Author: JW
Place: London
Recipient: Robert de Montesquiou-Fezensac[2]
Place: [Paris]
Repository: The Pierpont Morgan Library, New York
Call Number: MA 4500
Document Type: ALS[3]
21, CHEYNE WALK,
CHELSEA.
Elle n'est pas encore entièrement dechifrée [sic], la lettre[4], pleine de charmantes choses, que vous m'envoyez, mon ami, mais j'entrevois des honneurs et des flatteries, qui me sont fort doux et fort chers! - et j'en suis très touché-
En attendant le dévelopement [sic] de nos œuvres les expériences sur les "Songs on Stone[5]" en couleurs ont continué - ce qui est fort à propos - et Heinemann[6], notre Editeur, doit m'apporter [p. 2] les derniers resultats de Paris, où il est depuis quelques jours - Hotel des Deux Mondes, Avenue de l'Opera, si vous avez quelque chose à lui dire.
En attendant tout le reste, allez voir de belles choses que Goupil[7] propose de rendre même commerciales! Il paraît qu'à Paris on veut enfin m'acheter! Ce qui me plairait beaucoup - car nous aimons la porcelaine bleue et les cuillières en argent - et surtout celà ennuyerait tout le monde içi - où il est convenu que l'on ne m'achetera jamais!
Vous y trouverez deux pastels[8] - bijoux! Une Note Rouge[9] exquise, peinture - que vous connaissez - une Nocturne, St Marc[10] [p. 3] que vous ne connaissez pas - quoique vous l'avez souvent regardé dans l'atelier - mais elle était dans un fort mauvais état - c'est à dire sale et négligée - et j'avais cessé de la connaître moi-même. Maintenant elle est superbe! - Voila -
*Tout ça doit être chez les Goupil là haut sur les Boulevards où était autrefois une Exposition de Monet[11] - Vous direz que vous venez de ma part, car j'avais exgigé qu'on n'en fasse pas Exhibition, [sic] comme je ne voulais pas écrémer l'affaire pour plus tard - mais qu'on les montre seulement en cachette pour ainsi dire, à leurs clients choisis.
Vous savez il y a des Graham[12] bien plus Graham à Paris que ceux de Londres! et bien plus habils - [sic]
Maintenant que vous etes redevenu mondain acharné! vous [p. 4] pouvez envoyer toutes les belles femmes de Paris voir les petites "Pompeiennes ... Whistleriennes[13]"! -
Aussi il y aura le Portrait de ma Mère[14] - et celà s'est autre chose - Vous comprendrez tout en lisant la lettre ci-inclue - mais tout à fait entre nous la lettre[15] - Renvoyez-la-moi n'est-ce pas, tout de suite -
Et maintenant tout est claire [sic]! - et cette petite lettre, avec les meilleurs souvenirs de nous deux, part comme toujours à la plus grande hate! -
[butterfly signature]
* Demandez Mons. Joyant[16]
This document is protected by copyright.
Translation:
21, CHEYNE WALK,
CHELSEA.
The letter you have sent me, my friend, full of charming things, is not yet entirely deciphered, but I foresee honours and flatteries, which are very sweet and very dear to me! - and I am very touched by it.
Whilst awaiting the development of our works, the experiments on the "Songs on Stone" have continued, which is just as it should be - and Heinemann, our Editor, should bring me the latest results from Paris, where he has been at the Hotel des deux Mondes, Avenue de l'Opera, for the last few days, if you have anything to tell him.
Whilst awaiting everything else, go and see the beautiful things which Goupil is proposing even to make commercial! It seems that in Paris at last people want to buy me! Which would please me very much - because we like blue porcelain and silver spoons - and above all that would annoy everyone here - where it is agreed that nobody will ever buy me!
You will find two little pastels - jewels! An exquisite Red Note, a painting which you know, a Nocturne, St Mark which you do not know, although you have often looked at it in the studio - but it was in a very bad condition - that is to say dirty and neglected - and I had stopped recognizing it myself. Now it is superb! - There -
*All that should be at the Goupil's up there on the Boulevards where there was once a Monet Exhibition -You will say that you have come on my behalf, because I did not want my work to be Exhibited, as I did not wish to spoil the business for later - but that they should be shown only in private so to speak, to selected clients.
You know that there are Grahams many more Grahams in Paris than those in London! And much better
Now that you have reverted to incorrigible worldliness! you can send all the beautiful women in Paris to see the little "Pompeiennes…Whistleriennes"!
Also there will be the Portrait of my Mother - and that is another matter - you will understand everything on reading the enclosed letter - but that is strictly between ourselves - send it back to me, won't you, at once -
And now everything is clear - and this little letter, with the best memories from the two of us, leaves as always in the greatest possible haste! -
[butterfly signature]
* Ask for Mr Joyant
Notes:
1. [20 November 1891?]
Dated by references to Goupil and the 'Portrait of my Mother' (see below).
2. Robert de Montesquiou-Fezensac
Comte Robert de Montesquiou-Fezensac (1855-1921), Symbolist writer and poet, and collector [more].
3. ALS
A copy (#03032, not transcribed) of this letter was published in Newton, Joy, La Chauve-Souris et le Papillon. Correspondance Montesquiou-Whistler, Glasgow, 1990, no. 61, pp. 117-18.
4. lettre
Not identified.
5. Songs on Stone
JW was experimenting with a series of colour lithographs, Songs on Stone (excat 19).
6. Heinemann
William Heinemann (1863-1920), publisher [more]. See JW's letter to him, #08567. He did not in the end publish the Songs on Stone (excat 19).
7. Goupil
Art dealers (Boussod, Valadon & Cie.) in London and Paris.
8. pastels
Not identified.
9. Note Rouge
Note en rouge: L'Eventail (YMSM 256).
10. Nocturne, St Marc
Nocturne: Blue and Gold - St Mark's, Venice (YMSM 213).
11. Exposition de Monet
Claude Monet (1840-1926), artist [more], had exhibited paintings of Antibes at Boussod, Valadon & Cie in June 1888.
12. Graham
This reference is not entirely clear. William Graham (1817-1885), MP and collector [more], who commissioned Annabel Lee (YMSM 79), had accepted in its place Nocturne: Blue and Gold - Old Battersea Bridge (YMSM 140), and later sold it. JW was annoyed that, particularly after Nocturnes, Marines and Chevalet Pieces, Boussod, Valadon & Cie, Goupil Gallery, London, 1892, collectors sold his paintings at a great profit.
13. Pompéiennes...Whistleriennes
A reference to the rich colours - pinks and reds on brown paper - of his pastels.
14. Portrait de ma Mère
Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter's Mother (YMSM 101).
15. lettre
Léon Bourgeois wrote expressing interest in the acquisition of Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter's Mother (YMSM 101) for the French Government, 19 November 1891, #01494. This was the culmination of a successful campaign by JW and his friends in France, including Montesquiou.
16. Joyant
Maurice Joyant (1864-1930), art dealer, manager of Boussod, Valadon et Cie [more]. Joyant wrote to JW about the painting on exhibition, 18 November 1891, #00380.