Autograph letter signed.
Small-8vo. 1 p. on bifolium.
€ 250.00
To the academic painter and art critic Charles-Olivier Merson, asking him for an invitation to the Exposition de Toulouse that was curated by Merson for his son-in-law, the marine painter André Delaistre: "Voulez-vous avoir la bonté d'envoyer une invitation pour l'exposition de Toulouse à mon gendre Mr André Delaistre [...]".
Little known today, Guillemet was a pioneer of impressionism and close to many important artists. He studied under Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Charles-François Daubigny, and Gustave Courbet. Other than many of his friends, Guillemet had a very successful entry to the Paris Salon in 1874, the monumental landscape "Bercy en décembre" and continued to exhibit successfully at the official Salon. When Cézanne first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1882, he was described as a pupil of Guillemet, which was certainly an exaggeration but Guillemet had introduced Cézanne to Manet. In 1868/69 Guillemet modeled for Manet's famous painting "The Balcony", which is why his face is certainly better known than his name and own work today.
Well preserved.
