French Composers & Artists
Autograph letters signed by Chavannes, Moreau, Delibes, and Félicien David, to various recipients, 1866-1887
Letters by French Symbolist painters and Romantic composers.

Comprising:

Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (1824-1898). Autograph letter signed (‘P. Puvis de Chavannes’) to ‘Mon cher Pathey’, Paris, 3 November 1874, providing a statement on his career, otherwise refusing all publicity, and congratulating Pathey for his work on Daubigny;

Léo Delibes (1836-1891). Two autograph letters signed (‘Léo Delibes’) to Jules Bourdon, Paris, 31 October 1875, authorising the production of his operetta Deux vieilles gardes; and to [the architect Charles Garnier] (‘Mon cher Président’), [Paris, 20 December 1866], declining an invitation from Garnier for a seat at the opera as he has been accorded his own seat;

Gustave Moreau (1826-1898). Autograph letter signed (‘Gustave Moreau’) to an unknown recipient (‘Monsieur’), n.p., 19 April 1887, thanking his unnamed correspondent for some verses;

Félicien David (1810-1876). Autograph letter signed (‘Félicien David’) to an unknown recipient (‘ma chère amie’), n.p., n.d., asking for his correspondent’s forgiveness for being unfriendly the day before (‘il faut prendre en pitié les pauvres artistes dans ces moments') and accepting her invitation for the following Monday.;

In French. Seven pages in total, various sizes (137 x 111mm to 207 x 131mm). Provenance: Sotheby’s, 16 May 1978, lot 360.