Jules BRETON

Autograph letter signed by the painter Jules Breton to a colleague thanking him for his laudatory article concerning his latest painting: "J'ai été heureux de lire l'éloge que vous faites de mon tableau dans la Vie moderne, d'y trouver mon sonnet favorablement cité par un poète que j'aime entre tous." ("I was happy to read the praise you give my painting in La Vie moderne, to find my sonnet favorably quoted by a poet whom I love above all others.")
Academically trained, first a realist then naturalist painter, Jules Breton was one of the first artists of the peasant world and a poet member of the Parnasse, admired notably by Van Gogh.

Rare original color lithograph, executed by Jules-Alexis Muenier for L'Estampe Moderne, series number 17 published in September 1898.
One of 50 deluxe proofs printed on Japan paper with wide margins, artist's signature in the plate, publisher's dry stamp representing a child's profile in the lower margin, numbered stamp of the deluxe printing on the reverse; engraving preceded by a tissue guard captioned with the artist's name, the title, and a poem.
Lithograph inspired by a poem by Jules Breton, reproduced on the print's tissue guard.
Magnificent French monthly publication edited between May 1897 and April 1899, L'Estampe moderne consists of original...

Rare original lithograph, executed by Jules-Alexis Muenier for L'Estampe Moderne, series number 17 published in September 1898.
One of 50 deluxe proofs printed on China paper with wide margins, artist's signature in the plate, publisher's dry stamp representing a child's profile in the lower margin, mounted on a sheet of laid paper with the numbered stamp of the deluxe printing on the reverse, pale marginal foxing.
Lithograph inspired by a poem by Jules Breton.
Magnificent French monthly publication edited between May 1897 and April 1899, L'Estampe moderne consists of original chromolithographs which, unlike other magazines such as Les Maîtres de l'Affiche and...

Autograph signed postcard from painter Jules Breton to painter William Bouguereau regarding the loss of his son and his visit to the Salon des artistes indépendants: "[...] Quoique vieux jeunes tous les deux, j'ai remarqué samedi matin lors d'une première visite au Salon que nous ne faisions pas mauvaise figure dans notre salle. Et il ya 50 ans que nous y luttons. Ceux qui vivront dans 50 ans verront beaucoup de nos triomphateurs à bon marché. [...]" ["Though we are both old yet young, I noticed on Saturday morning during a first visit to the Salon that we did not cut a poor figure in our room. And we have been struggling there for 50 years. Those who live...

Signed autograph letter from the painter Jules Breton, one folded sheet, a marginal tear. Academically trained, a realist then naturalist painter, Jules Breton was one of the first artists of the peasant world.
The painter addresses a childhood friend of his daughter, the artist painter Virginie Demont-Breton: "Thank you for your kind letter of congratulations about Virginie's decoration, your former little companion who has kept such affectionate memories of you. I can still see you playing on the sand of Douarnenez during that horrible war [...] My wife [...] has just lost her youngest brother whom we loved tenderly. Today one laughs and tomorrow one cries, such...

Unpublished autograph manuscript signed by painter Jules Breton, titled Le brouillard et le soleil (fable). One leaf.
Academically trained, first a realist then naturalist painter, Jules Breton was one of the first artists of the rural world and a poet member of the Parnasse, notably admired by Van Gogh.
"Le Brouillard se vantait : "j'ai noyé le Soleil !
"Victoire ! J'ai dissous sa triviale Vie !"
- L'Astre sut ce malheur aussitôt son réveil.
Tel l'art vrai se retrompe aux baves de l'Envie !
Jules Breton" [The Fog boasted: "I have drowned the Sun!
"Victory! I have dissolved his trivial Life!"
- The Star learned...