Lettre autographe signée d'Henri Matisse à Eva Blackburn

Handwritten, signed letter by Henri Matisse to Eva Blackburn

2 December 1950, 20.8 x 26.7 cm, one leaf

Signed letter by Henri Matisse, handwritten in black ink. Envelope attached.

Attached is a transcription of the letter in English on small paper butterfly removed from a spiralbound notebook.
While the Chapelle du Rosaire is under construction, Henri Matisse writes this letter to a young unknown English woman from his studio room at the Hotel Régina in Nice. The recipient named Eva Blackburn was to join him at the beginning of the following year. Matisse, immersed in his work as a church builder for the Dominican Sisters of Vence, painted the exterior ceramic tondo crowning the stained glass windows of the choir, representing two entwined figures. At the same time, he saw the fabrication of the chapel's first stained glass window, one of his most emblematic creations.
"Chère Mademoiselle Eva, J'attends de vos nouvelles. Comptes-vous venir travailler à Nice. Je vous attends comme il a été convenu entre nous avant votre voyage à Londres. Veuillez me fixer à ce sujet. Je voudrais que vous veniez le 3 janvier. Je vous enverrai votre voyage Paris-Nice, quelques jours avant votre départ - à l'adresse que vous m'indiquerez à cette intention. Bien cordialement, H. Matisse Regina Ciniez Nice 2 Déc. 1950” “Dear Miss Eva, I am waiting to hear from you. Do you plan to come and work in Nice. I am expecting you as agreed between us before your trip to London. Please let me know on this. I would like to you come on 3rd January. I will send you your Paris-Nice journey a few days before you set off - to the address you give me for this purpose. Sincerely, H. Matisse Regina Ciniez Nice 2nd Dec. 1950”