BANVILLE THEODORE DE: (1823-1891) French poet and writer, influential on the Symbolist movement ...

BANVILLE THEODORE DE: (1823-1891) French poet and writer, influential on the Symbolist movement in French literature in the late 19th century. An amusing A.L.S., Th. de Banville, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., to ´Cher ami´ (apparently Theophile Gautier according to an early 20th century catalogue description which accompanies the letter), in French. Banville commences his letter stating ´Je continue a tirer a vue sur vous; faiyes en autant!´ (Translation: ´I'm still shooting at you on sight, so do the same!´) and continues ´J´ai promis a mon ami J. Cressonnois, compositeur de musique, un exemplaire de la gravure qui represente la Femme de Diomede jouee chez le Prince Napoleon´ (Translation: ´I have promised my friend J. Cressonnois, music composer, a copy of the engraving representing the Femme de Diomede played at Prince Napoleon's house´), further remarking ´Pour tenir ma parole, j´ai deux moyens. Le premier, d´acquerir de l´argent par le vol, la trahison, l´inceste, l´assassinat, et d´acheter la dite gravure; le second de vous la demander. Tranchez vous meme le question´ (Translation: ´ I have two ways of keeping my word. The first, to acquire money by theft, treason, incest, assassination, and to buy the said engraving; the second to ask you for it. Decide the question for yourself´). Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG

Theophile Gautier (1811-1872) French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist and art and literary critic. Gautier had access to the court of Napoleon III through his sinecure as librarian to Princess Mathilde Bonaparte.

The engraving Banville refers to in the present letter was of an 1861 painting by Gustave Boulanger, the complete title of which was Répétition du "Joueur de flûte" et de "la Femme de Diomède, " chez S.A.I. le prince Napoléon, dans l’atrium de sa maison, avenue Montaigne. The painting served as an inspiration to Napoleon III for his Pompeiian palace and its inauguration, at which Gautier was present to hear the recitation of his poem written for the occasion, La Femme de Diomede: Prologue.