MONET CLAUDE: (1840-1926) French Impressionist painter. An important collection of three outstanding A.Ls.S. by Monet to various correspondents, including Suzanne Manet and Camille Pissarro, regarding the raising of funds by public subscription for the acquisition of Edouard Manet´s famous masterpiece, the oil painting Olympia (1863). The collection comprises (in chronological order) -

(i) A.L.S., Claude Monet, three pages, 8vo, Giverny par Vernon, Eure, 26th August 1889, to [Jean-Baptiste] Faure (´Mon cher Faure´), in French. Monet writes in his characteristic bold purple ink and states, in full, ´Je viens vous demander si vous voulez participer à la souscription que nous faisons entre amis et admirateurs de Manet pour acheter l´Olympia de Manet et l´offrir au Louvre. Nous serions très heureux de vous compter parmi nous pour cette manifestation toute artistique. Je sais bien que ce tableau de Manet n´est pas votre préféré mais si nous l´avons choisi c´est surtout parce qu´il appartient à Madame Manet à laquelle nous voulons discrètement venir en aide, et aussi parce qu´il était le tableau préféré de Manet. C´est un bel hommage à rendre à l´artiste et j´espère bien que vous me ferez une réponse favorable. Vous priant de me dire pour quelle somme je dois vous inscrire. Je vous adresse la liste des souscriptions à ce jour´ (Translation: ´I have come to ask you if you would like to take part in the subscription that we, Manet's friends and admirers, are making to buy Manet's Olympia and offer it to the Louvre. We would be very happy to count you among us for this artistic event. I know that Manet's painting is not your favourite, but we have chosen it mainly because it belongs to Madame Manet, whom we wish to discreetly help, and also because it was Manet's favourite painting. It is a fine tribute to pay to the artist and I very much hope that you will give me a favourable response. Please let me know the amount I should register you for. I am sending you the list of subscriptions to date´). Some light age wear and a lengthy, neat split to the central vertical fold of the bifolium.

Jean-Baptiste Faure (1830-1914) French baritone and art collector. An enthusiastic and avid collector of Impressionist art, Faure sat for multiple portraits by Edouard Manet, and owned more than sixty paintings by the artist (including another masterpiece Le déjeuner sur l´herbe). Faure´s collection also featured works by Monet, Edgar Degas, Alfred Sisley, and Camille Pissarro.

(ii) A.L.S., Claude Monet, four pages, 8vo, Giverny par Vernon, Eure, 13th November 1889, to [Suzanne Manet] (´Chère Madame´), in French. Monet states that he has received his correspondent´s kind letter, and was happy to have been able to please her, continuing to remark ´Vous savez combien j´aimais votre cher mari et combien je serai fier d´avoir pu contribuir à lui faire obtener la place à laquelle il a tant de droits´ (Translation: ´You know how much I loved your dear husband and how proud I will be to have been able to help him obtain the position to which he is so entitled´) and further writing ´Il ne faut pas nous illusioner car ce qui vous parait si naturel parait à d´autres bien audacieux et ce qui est triste à dire il y a encore des ennemis qui refusent de se rendre, mais pour ma part je puis vous assurer que je ne me rebuterai pas et que je ferai tout pour arriver au but que nous voulons´ (Translation: ´We must not delude ourselves because what seems so natural to you seems very bold to others and sadly there are still enemies who refuse to give in, but for my part I can assure you that I will not be discouraged and that I will do everything to achieve our goal´) and concluding by adding ´Mr. Portier que vous avez vu, m´ecrit pour me demander ce que vous devez faire de l´Olympia. Je crois que le mieux , si l´on vous aporte d´autres tableaux, de prendre également l´Olympia chez vous… à moins cependant que vous le mettez chez Madame Eugène Manet [Berthe Morisot], mais il ne faut pas douter… que nous avons encore un mois de pourparlers avant d´obtenir satisfaction et dont je vous mettrai au courant´ (Translation: ´Mr Portier, whom you saw, has written to ask me what you should do with the Olympia. I think that the best thing, if we bring you other paintings, is to also take the Olympia to your place... unless, of course, you put it at Madame Eugène Manet's [Berthe Morisot], but there's no doubt about it... that we still have a month of talks before we get satisfaction, and I will keep you informed´). Some light overall age toning, evidently a result of the letter having previously been framed, the text of two pages (including the final one, with Monet´s signature) somewhat faded, although still legible. One small area of paper loss to a corner, professionally repaired to a satisfactory standard.

Suzanne Manet (1829-1906) Dutch pianist, the wife of Edouard Manet, for whom she frequently modelled.

Berthe Morisot (1841-1895) French Impressionist painter, the wife of Eugène Manet, brother of her friend and fellow artist Edouard Manet.

(iii) A.L.S., Claude Monet, three pages, 8vo, Giverny par Vernon, Eure, 23rd November 1889, to Camille Pissarro (´Mon cher Pissarro´), in French. Writing in his characteristic bold purple ink, Monet acknowledges receipt of his friend´s letter and their contribution of 50 francs in the form of a money order to the Manet subscription fund, although adding that there was no urgency. Monet also explains that the fund now holds 18,500 francs and that he hopes to reach a round figure very soon, however the painter continues to state ´Mais il reste le plus difficile, l´admission de notre don par l´état et je sais déjà que pendant que je travaille à arriver au résultat, d´autres travaillent aussi mais en sens inverse et pour faire avorter notre oeuvre. Proust le premier m´a écrit, tout en souscrivant, qu´il ne voulait pas se charger de faire accepter ce tableau par l´état, considérant L´Olympia coome un des moins bons Manet´ (Translation: ´But the most difficult part remains, convincing the state to accept our gift, and I already know that while I am working to achieve the result, others are also working, but in the opposite direction and to abort our work. Proust was the first to write to me, and although subscribing, he does not want to take charge of making the state accept this painting, considering L'Olympia as one of Manet's least good works´) further describing Proust´s reaction as silly and comical. In concluding Monet remarks ´Mais je crois qu´il est du devoir des artistas de pousser cette affaire, quant à moi je ferai tout pour arriver à notre but´ (Translation: ´But I believe it is the duty of artists to push this matter, and for my part I will do everything to achieve our goal´).

Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) French Impressionist painter.

An absolutely remarkable trio of letters relating to one of the most famous and iconic paintings in the history of Impressionist art. G to VG, 3

Manet´s Olympia (1863) was first exhibited at the 1865 Paris Salon where it immediately caused controversy. The subject of the painting, Olympia, is a white prostitute, seen reclining in a full-length naked pose on her bed, while being attended to by her black maid. Olympia´s confrontational gaze towards the viewer sparked shock amongst the public in 1865, however the painting later became appreciated as one of Manet´s masterpieces. This was certainly the opinion of Monet, who played the greatest part in the campaign intended to have Olympia purchased through subscription and then to have it accepted by the French government for display in the Louvre. Monet´s campaign commenced in 1889 and by February 1890 the artist had raised around 20,000 francs for the acquisition of the painting. However, French law prevented the Louvre from exhibiting works until their creators were ten years deceased (Manet died in 1883) and therefore Olympia was first kept in the Musée du Luxembourg. It finally entered the Louvre in 1907, fullfilling Monet´s wishes.

Autograph letters by Monet on the subject of Olympia, most of which were addressed to friends in his artistic circle, are highly desirable and each of the present three examples display individual merits in both their exceptional content and associations.