Between Paris and Polynesia: Gauguin and his patron Ambroise Vollard
Autograph letter signed ("Paul Gauguin").
4to. 1 p.
To his art dealer and sponsor Ambroise Vollard (1866-1939), complaining about an outstanding monthly payment and worrying about the shipment of paintings to Marseille through the famous art dealership Goupil & Cie: "Je reçois votre lettre datée 27 Xb 1901 m'annonçant 650 plus mille francs soit au charge commission de 1618f. à cette date il manque un mois de 350f. Depuis que je suis aux marquesas vous avez envoyé tout 350 Sept. 350 Novb. 350 f + 300 [...] - Decembre 250f. + 1000 f - L'erreur signalée par Sharff [banker from Hamburg] n'est qu'une erreur d'ecritures car j'ai signé par mégarde le reçu de 277 francs au lieu de 277 mark - Il m'y a pas à s'en occuper - Là où je suis inquiet c'est pour la caisse de tableaux. J'envoie immédiatement ordre à Papeete de voir à la Cie qu'elle fasse le nécessaire. Avez vous bien envoyé?? à Marseille l'ordre de prendre la caisse avec le connaissement que je vous ai envoyé. Car c'est je crois vous même ou un correspondant qui doit prendre la caisse qui a du arriver à Marseille en Novembre par le paquebot. Il faudra penser à m'envoyer encore de la toile car /calculez vous même) un mètre de cette toile fait deux tableaux [...]".
In 1901 Gauguin had moved to Hiva Oa, the largest of the Marquesas Islands, hoping to find a society less affected by French colonial rule than Tahiti. Although his expectations for Hiva Oa were disappointed, Gauguin was very productive during his stay there, which was also facilitated by Vollard. One of the most important art dealers in French contemporary art at the time, he became Gauguin's principal patron in 1899 and would support the artist until his premature death in 1903. Vollard paid Gauguin monthly advances and sent art supplies to Hiva Oa, as mentioned in this letter. In return, Gauguin was obliged to sell him 25 unseen paintings a year at a set price. This agreement allowed Gauguin, who for years had been living in financially unstable conditions, to move to the Marquesas Islands and to spend his final months in Tahiti in considerable comfort. After Gauguin's death Vollard organized two important posthumous exhibitions in Paris, helping to popularize a painter who saw very limited success during his lifetime.
With two minor tears and one restored tear.
