Alexandre CABANEL

Autograph letter signed by the painter Alexandre Cabanel regarding one of his last portraits. Letter with letterhead from 14 rue Alfred de Vigny, one folded sheet.
"Lundi 6 9bre

Autograph letter signed by the painter Alexandre Cabanel, one page on a folded sheet. The painter requests payment for a copy of his most famous painting, the Birth of Venus, commissioned by American patron John Wolfe and now displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
"Etant obligé de m'absenter quelques jours je désirerais trouver à mon retour le 19 une somme de deux mille francs. J'ai pensé que vous voudriez bien la tenir à ma disposition à titre d'acompte sur la répétition de la vénus que j'ai terminée et signée sur votre demande et qui vous a été livrée l'été dernier. Veuillez agréer [...] A. Cabanel" [Being obliged to absent myself for a few days, I would like to find on my return on the 19th a sum of two thousand francs. I thought you would be kind enough to hold it at my disposal as an advance payment for the replica of the Venus that I have completed and signed at your request and which was delivered to you last summer. Please accept [...] A. Cabanel]