MONET CLAUDE: (1840-1926) French Impressionist Painter. A good A.L.S., `Claude Monet

MONET CLAUDE: (1840-1926) French Impressionist Painter. A good A.L.S., `Claude Monet

`…one hundred francs for the Manet subscription´

 

MONET CLAUDE: (1840-1926) French Impressionist Painter. A good A.L.S., `Claude Monet´, one page, 8vo, Giverny par Vernon, 26th November 1889, to an unidentified correspondent, in French. Monet to a painting by Manet, whose widow he is trying to help, stating `Je reçois votre lettre et m´empresse de vous remercier de votre envoi de cent francs pour la souscription Manet´ (“I receive your letter and hasten to thank you for sending one hundred francs for the Manet subscription”) Paper with J. Allen & Sons watermark. Very small scratch to the upper edge and age wear. Bearing two very small areas of paper loss to the blank integral leaf. G

 

When Edouard Manet (1832-1883) passed away, all his paintings were exhibited for sale at the Hotel Drouot, including Olympia (1863) which did not find a buyer. Manet´s widow re-offered the painting six years later because of her difficult financial situation. Monet organized a popular subscription in 1890 to collect funds in order to purchase the painting and donate it to the French state. His initiative found a strong success and support. The French authorities accepted the donation and the painting was first exhibited at the Musée du Luxembourg and later entered the Louvre after a petition of Monet to Clémenceau.