LS in French, one page, 8.25 x 10.75, Ministere de l'Instruction Publique et des Beaux Arts letterhead, February 27, 1890. Letter addressed to "Monsieur Claude Monet, artiste-peintre," regarding the donation of "l'Olympia' de Edouard Manet" and the coordination of its admission into the Louvre or the Musée du Luxembourg. In very good to fine condition, with scattered overall light foxing.
Edouard Manet’s painting 'Olympia,' an arrestingly bold nude of a reclining prostitute, immediately sparked controversy upon its unveiling at the 1865 Paris Salon. Later recognized as one of the artist’s true masterpieces, Monet spearheaded a public campaign to raise money for the French government to purchase the painting. Monet's letters on the subject—generally sent to those within his artistic circle—are highly coveted. By February 1890, Monet had raised about 20,000 francs to purchase the great work and announced its donation to the French national museums. As the law prevented the Louvre from exhibiting works until their creators were ten years deceased (Manet died in 1883), 'Olympia' was first shown at the Musée du Luxembourg, then at the Musée de l'Art Contemporary of Paris. By order of Georges Clemenceau, Olympia finally took its place in the Louvre in 1907.
