Oct 28, 2021 - Sale 2584

Sale 2584 - Lot 126

Price Realized: $ 6,250
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 5,000 - $ 7,500
CHAGALL, MARC. Archive of 15 letters and notes, each Signed "Marc Chagall" or "Chagall," to collector Adolphe A. Juviler or his wife, in French or English, including an ALS, 10 TLsS, 2 LsS, and 2 ANsS, mostly arranging for the loan of paintings to exhibitions and personal topics. Together 23 pages. 4to or smaller, few on "Les Collines" stationery or postcard or greeting card; many chipped at edges but otherwise in good condition. Many with the original envelope. Vp, 1946-69

Additional Details

25 June 1947: ". . . [T]he Museum of Modern Art [in Paris] has decided to mount my retrospective exhibition in October. I am very pleased. . . . Would you consent once again to loan your paintings? . . . The director of the Museum himself will write you about this. The address of the Museum is Avenue President Wilson and the name of the director is Jean Cassou."
26 May 1950, LS, from Chagall and his close friend Virginia, written in her hand, in English: ". . . Marc has found a house that suits him . . . containing three studios! You would think he would have plenty of room here but he still stores his pictures in the passages & lavatories! . . ."
11 August 1952, LS: ". . . Yes, Curt Valentin (Brechholz) is going to exhibit my sculptures, ceramics and the Fables of Lafontaine, this autumn. . . ."
9 June 1953, ALS: "Just telephone (316 Vence) so we can arrange a meeting. . . . I'm already excited at the thought of all the things we'll be able to talk about and you'll see with your own eyes the changes that have occurred in my life."
27 July 1956: ". . . I would also have liked for you to see the different exhibitions of me that will take place in Europe: at Bale, Berne, Amsterdam and Brussels. I don't know whether the organizers have approached you about loaning paintings, but I would be pleased for something of yours to be there. I am happy that 'En écoutant le Coq' ['Listening to the Cock'] will be reproduced in color in the book that Skira publishers is preparing. . . ."
24 March 1957: "I am happy to know that you are still Chagallian. It's a joy that helps one believe in oneself. As for your artistic ideas, we'll talk about them when you're here.
"Right now, I have to work a lot because of an exhibition being prepared for the Bibliothèque Nationale in June-July on engraved works; at Maeght's, at the same time, an exhibition of paintings will take place."
3 October 1958: ". . . You know me: so I needn't tell you how rare it is for me to ask personally for loans of paintings and how much I don't like to insist. . . . But if I am very demanding for my work, I am equally so for the presentations, which are also a kind of art. . . .
"If, as I hope, you will kindly give a favorable reply to my letter, I ask you to do so as soon as possible, the catalog being in preparation."
22 October 1969, concerning an exhibition at the Grand Palais: ". . . You've known me for several years and you know how much I always worry about an important exhibition of my work. Naturally, I insist that the paintings I consider the most important figure in this next exhibition."
Nd, thanking for the gift of a radio-gramophone: ". . . You can't imagine what pleasure it will give me, as I like very much to work while being inspired by classical music. . . . According to my research, the electric current here is A.C. I appreciate very much your intention to deliver it to the country. . . ."
With--Three printed items: Two birth announcements from Chagall's daughter Ida and her husband Franz Meyer, in French, for Piet Marc on July 10, 1953, and for Bella Lisa and Meret Lia on April 28, 1955 • Announcement for Chagall's retrospective at the Kunsthalle in Basel, Switzerland, in German, signed and inscribed by daughter Ida ("if you could only / see it! / yours Ida"). Each a folded sheet with reproduced Chagall artwork on first page, 12mo. 1953; 55; 56.