Memories of a visit to Scotland. 1871

Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev (1818-1883)
Memories of a visit to Scotland. 1871
Autograph letter signed ('I. Turgenjew') to [Elizabeth] Benzon, 48 rue de Douai, Paris, 12 December 1871.

In German. Three pages, 210 x 133mm, on a bifolium with printed monogram 'JT', annotated on blank verso of f.2 'Iwan Turgeniew (Aus Lisbeth's Nachlass)'. [With:] carte-de-visite photograph of Turgenev by Nadar, Paris, 1878. Provenance: RR Auction, 23 March 2015, lot 691.

Happy memories of a visit to Scotland. 'Every time you think of me (if indeed this happens) – you must say to yourself: that is truly what the French call a "gros ingrat". But I am no "gros ingrat"; at least I can assure you that the memory of you, of that lovely time in Allean House – is one of my most pleasurable feelings'. Since then, Turgenev has been in poor health, especially from gout, on top of which came his move from Baden-Baden to Paris, and 'the complete breaking up of the Baden "etablissements"', as well as 'having to finish a boring piece of literary work'. Things will soon be back to normal, however. Turgenev assumes that the Benzons will be returned to their house in London, and sends 'a larger photograph of my person ... one of the better ones', and showing him 'much younger than I am now, for most of them are old and ugly ... Forgive me this coquetterie – I did not want to leave a bad impression on you'. The letter concludes with good wishes to Elisabeth's husband, and brief news of the Viardot household, which is still 'in great disorder' after the move.

Elisabeth Benzon, née Lehmann, was the sister of the painters Henri and Rudolf Lehmann, and wife of the English industrialist Ernst Schlesinger-Benzon (1819-1873). Turgenev stayed with them at Allean House, Pitlochry, to enjoy the grouse-shooting from 10 to 16 August 1871 – his only visit to Scotland. The accompanying photograph, which dates from 1878, is evidently not that referred to in the letter.

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