Autograph letter signed by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres to Charles Paillet, with autograph address and title "Honorary Expert Commissioner of the Royal Museums", with postal stamps. Usual fold marks. A marginal tear repaired without affecting the text.

Ingres provides descriptions and exhibition instructions for his two paintings Aretino and the Ambassador of Charles V and Aretino in the Studio of Tintoretto.

Ingres had painted these two works in 1815 and presented them at the 1824 Salon in Paris—selecting episodes from the romantic and scandalous life of Aretino: “By choosing this subject, Ingres affirms the independence of the artist in the face of power. He also reflects the widespread success, in the early 19th century, of representations of episodes from the lives of past painters and writers, illustrated in an anecdotal mode.” (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon). This letter refers to the reappearance of the paintings in 1829 at an “Exhibition in support of the fund for the eradication of begging” held at the Lebrun Gallery, founded by the late husband of Elizabeth Vigée-Lebrun. The descriptions given by Ingres in this letter would be published in the exhibition catalogue (Explication des ouvrages de peinture et sculpture [...], Coniam, 1829, pp. 20–21). Ingres sends them here to the respected art dealer Charles Paillet—while noting his status as an expert to the Louvre on the reverse of the letter. The works are now held in private collections (Aretino and the Ambassador of Charles V was recently sold by the Stair Sainty Gallery). Ingres later revisited the subject and painted another version in 1848, now housed at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon.

Fascinating letter, revealing that Ingres himself authored the descriptions of his works for the 1829 exhibition.

Sir, I have the honour of sending you the notices for my two paintings on Pietro Aretino.

These two paintings, morally connected by their subject, must be exhibited together—although a single painting may separate them.

I respectfully ask you, sir, to display them in the aisle opposite that of the Philip V painting.

I will bring them myself when I come on the 24th to collect those that are to be withdrawn from the exhibition.

I remain, sir, yours sincerely,

Ingres

Subject of the first painting on Pietro Aretino, known as the scourge of princes.

Charles V, on his return from Africa, sent him a gold chain worth 100 ducats to silence him: “There,” said the satirist, “is a very small gift for such great folly.”

Subject of the second painting

Rivalry turned to jealousy had caused a rift between Tintoretto and Titian. Aretino, a close friend of the latter, took his side and unleashed his wrath against Tintoretto. One day, Tintoretto met him near his home and invited him in under the pretext of painting his portrait. Hardly had the scourge of princes sat down when the painter approached him, pistol in hand. “Ah, Jacopo,” cried the frightened poet, “what are you doing?” “Taking your measurements,” replied Tintoretto gravely. And after measuring him, he added in the same tone: “You are two and a half of my pistols high,” and let him go...