Georges CLAIRIN

Autograph letter signed by the Orientalist painter Georges Clairin to a fellow painter, complaining about the harsh selection imposed by the Salon des artistes français, the official and obligatory gathering of French painting.
"[...] jusqu'au 20 mars il y a à Paris beaucoup de malheureux artistes, dont je fais partie, qui s'imposent le supplice d'envoyer un ou deux tableaux au palais des Champs Elysées, et que je suis assez bête pour envoyer deux tableaux cette année - je suis en retard et madame peinture ne me permet pas de me donner les plaisirs que m'offrent l'amitié. [...]" ["[...] until March 20th there are in Paris many unfortunate artists, of whom I am

First edition published anonymously, one of 125 copies on simili-Japan paper.
Bradel binding in turquoise half cloth with corners, smooth spine decorated with gilt fleuron, double gilt fillet and gilt date at foot, tan morocco title label, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, original wrappers preserved, contemporary binding.
Handsome copy.
Our copy is complete with the China paper facsimile of Charles Monselet's letter which shows heavy foxing as is usual with China paper.
Work illustrated with an original etching frontispiece by Georges Clairin and, at the end of the volume, an original etching by Félicien Rops.

First edition published anonymously, one of 125 copies on simili-Japon paper.
Work illustrated with a frontispiece by Clairin, an etching by Félicien Rops and a facsimile, on China paper, of a letter by Charles Monselet.
Two lacks at head and foot of spine, handsome interior condition despite small foxing at head of the facsimile on China paper.