Rare ALS in French, one page both sides, 4.5 x 7, February 2, written from Ville ‘La Cigaronne’ Cap d’Antibes, (Alpes Maritimes), undated but circa 1890. In full (translated): “I have just received your card and I immediately answer it. Just before leaving Paris, Mr. Joseph Durand-Ruel promised he would soon speak to his father to ask him to part with the painting that you have chosen for the Luxembourg. Since then, I have not been contacted. I am writing to Mr. Durand-Ruel who must be now back to ask him to take a favorable decision. I hope that he will not refuse me this favor. Thanking you again, dear sir, for the honor that you have given me. I ask you to accept this expression of my best sentiments.”
After over a decade of successful exhibitions with art dealer Durand-Ruel and his increasingly popular Impressionists, including her close friend and mentor Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt branched out on her own in the late 1880s, no longer identifying with any style or exhibiting with any particular group. While staying with her family in southeastern France, she was honored with a request for a piece of her work to hang at the Musee du Luxembourg, arguably the finest Impressionist museum of the early 20th century. Unfortunately, their policy was to buy only from the artist, and Durand-Ruel, who owned the painting they selected, refused to return it to Cassatt. It would take another three years for the Luxembourg to select another piece, and for the artist to finally see her work enter a museum collection. This letter, penned while Cassatt was still hopeful that the deal would work out, is an exceptionally rare and desirable piece from the influential artist at work. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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