ALS in French, signed “Renoir,” two pages on two adjoining sheets, 4.25 x 7, October 3, 1918. Handwritten letter to his close friend Maurice Gangnat, a French steel magnate who owned about 150 of Renoir's paintings. In full (translated): "I am delighted to have your news especially that they are good. Here it is okay but there are too many mosquitos and we suffer a lot. I have written to Naust so that he can change my financial papers for the loan. When you are in Paris go and see him. I hope that he received my letter. I have 235,000 francs in financial papers. I have written to Pierre his son to tell him to go and see you after his passage in Paris. All my good friendship to you to your wife and Philippe." In fine condition.
Renoir's discussion of his finances reveals his success as a painter—though he began as one of the poorest Impressionists, his prolific output earned him a massive fortune, supported in part by his affiliation with Gagnat. In 1906, he painted a portrait of the young Philippe Gagnat—Maurice's son, mentioned in the closing. A scarce and desirable handwritten letter by the great Impressionist painter.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$300.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
