CAROLUS-DURAN

Autograph letter signed by Charles Auguste Émile Durant known as Carolus-Duran, famous portraitist of high society during the Third Republic, to the critic and essayist Paul de Saint-Victor. One folded sheet, envelope included.
The painter thanks the journalist for "des lignes si bienveillantes que vous avez bien voulu me consacrer à propos de mon envoi au Salon. [...] je serais heureux de vous le prouver en vous offrant un petit morceau de peinture, si vous voulez me faire le plaisir d'accepter" ["such kind lines that you were good enough to dedicate to me regarding my submission to the Salon. [...] I would be happy to prove it to you by offering you a small p

Autograph letter signed by Charles Auguste Émile Durant known as Carolus-Duran, famous portraitist of high society during the Third Republic, to Paul de Saint-Victor, French critic and essayist. One folded sheet with envelope.
The artist recommends a young woman painter to his friend "Elle a fait une copie de Rubens - Marie de Médicis représentant la France. Cette personne a du talent et est digne, à tous égards, de votre bienveillance. Je vous serai infiniment reconnaissant de ce que vous voudrez bien faire pour elle" ["She made a copy of Rubens - Marie de Médicis representing France. This person has talent and is worthy, in all respects, of your benevolence.

Autograph letter signed by Charles Auguste Émile Durant known as Carolus-Duran, famous portraitist of high society during the Third Republic, to a female recipient. One folded sheet with envelope.
The artist discusses a future portrait with his correspondent: "Chère Madame, Vous me demandez le prix d'un portrait comme celui d'Yvonne, si vous vous souvenez, j'ai fait pour Monsieur de Montague une concession amicale toute particulière et tout à fait en dehors de mon prix habituel qui est de 8000 francs pour une tête d'enfant, de femme ou d'homme. Voilà ce que je vous prie d'indiquer [...]" ["Dear Madam, You ask me the price of a portrait like that of Yvonne, if y

Autograph letter signed by Charles Auguste Émile Durant known as Carolus-Duran, famous portraitist of high society during the Third Republic. One folded sheet.
The artist discusses the forthcoming engraving of a famous painting with very controversial attribution: the Apollo and Marsyas, acquired in 1850 by English collector Morris Moore who maintained, despite the opinion of numerous curators, its attribution to Raphael. Exhibited in London, Paris, Vienna, Venice and Milan, it was finally acquired in 1883 by the Louvre museum for the sum of 200,000 francs. Its attribution is now given to Perugino.
"Monsieur le directeur,
Vous vous souvenez sans

Autograph letter signed by Charles Auguste Émile Durant known as Carolus-Duran, famous portraitist of high society during the Third Republic. One folded sheet.
The artist gives his authorization to the famous journal L'Illustration to reproduce one of the portraits ("le portrait en gris de Melle XXX") ["the grey portrait of Miss XXX"] that he presented at the first Salon du Champ de Mars, in 1890. This painting received good reviews, notably in the Revue des Deux mondes: "[...] M. Carolus Duran est pourtant un portraitiste rare et supérieur par la sincérité qu'il apporte à rendre, dans tout son éclat et toute sa variété, la première et sai

Inscribed photograph signed by Natalie Clifford Barney
Original photograph in albumen print from the early 20th century, showing the black and white childhood portrait of Natalie Clifford Barney, painted by Carolus-Duran in 1887.

On the back in blue ink, a later (ca 1960) handwritten inscription by Natalie Clifford Barney: “Triste et doux petit page, – moi-même de jadis... peint par Carolus Duran” ("Sad and sweet little page, myself of yesteryear...painted by Carolus-Duran.")