"Dear Poet": Renoir's portrait of Stephane Mallarmé
Autograph letter signed ("Renoir").
8vo. 1 p. With autograph envelope. In French.
€ 6,500.00
To Stephane Mallarmé, explaining that he has not forgotten his portrait but had been suffering from a toothache and fever with chills. He promises that they will be more at ease after "this idiotic exhibition". Following a somewhat cryptic remark that he would like to put his painting on display "before the face that it makes", Renoir mentions the art critic Roger Marx and a Mr Roujou, who were apparently involved in the exhibition: "Je voulais vous parler de votre portrait vous dire que je ne vous oubliais pas mais j'ai mal aux dents. Voilà deux jours que j'ai la fièvre des frissons. Aussitôt cette idiote exposition nous serons plus tranquilles. Je voudrais bien mettre mon tableau voir avant la tête qu'il fait. Je n'ose pas à cause de Marx. Je voudrais y être autorisé par M. Roujon. Mais je n'ai pas le temps. Tampis". Today, Renoir's portrait of Mallarmé is on display at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.
Traces of folds. Somewhat creased and a minimal tear to the lower margin. The envelope with collector's note in pencil.
