Description:

Starving Impressionist Alfred Sisley Rebukes a Creditor: "You will not lose your money"

A 1p autograph letter in French signed by British expatriate artist Alfred Sisley (1839-1899) as "A. Sisley" near lower right. Written in Veneux-Nadon (now Veneux-les-Sablons), France on June 27, 1880. On a single leaf of laid paper. Expected paper folds and isolated foxing. A vertical purple stain, probably from previous mounting, is located along the left margin and only touches one letter of one word of text. Else near fine. 5.125" x 8." Accompanying Sisley's letter is a 2pp autograph letter in French, presumably in the hand of Sisley's correspondent, in response. With expected wear including discrete professional repairs to closed tears, toning, and isolated stains, else very good. 5.25" x 8.25." Provenance: Ex-Noel Goldblatt (ca. 1926-2003) of the famous Goldblatt's Department Store, to a prominent Los Angeles, California collector.

Sisley's work, which rivals that of his fellow Impressionist Claude Monet in style, freedom of expression, and color, was not appreciated during his lifetime. In consequence, Sisley's art did not often sell, and after his family's money disappeared after the Franco-Prussian War, he was condemned to be a perennial starving artist. He frequently depended on loans and on charity to survive. In this letter to a creditor named Murer, Sisley rather scornfully tells him that he will be repaid.

Translated in full:

"My dear Murer

You have had enough good dealings with me to leave me a little peace today.

You will not lose your money.

Don’t harass me then or you will only lose it.

Best wishes
A. Sisley

Veneux-Nadon 27 June 1880."

Sisley's creditor Murer begins his lengthy response with, "My dear Sisley, You say that I have had good dealings with you. I vow that I don't understand what that signifies…" Murer's handwriting is rather difficult to read, and it is scrawled on both sides of a sheet of paper with numerous cross-outs. But the gist of it appears to be an accounting of all of Sisley's remaining debts. The word "canvas" appears throughout.

The identity of Sisley's correspondent remains in question. There was an amateur artist and art collector named Hyacinthe-Eugène Murer (1841-1906) who supported many of the Impressionists financially, and who hosted Tuesday night dinners of artists and art dealers like Sisley, Monet, Renoir, and both Vincent and Theo Van Gogh. But the rather petulant tone of this Murer's letter does not seem consistent with the well-known generosity of Hyacinthe-Eugène Murer.

Sisley was the son of British parents and was born and raised in France. In the 1860s, Sisley became one of the earliest adherents of the newly emerging school of Impressionism, experimenting with en plein air painting, or painting outdoors in the natural environment. Sisley lived in and around the region of Île-de-France, outside of Paris, for 19 years. He lived in Veneux-Nadon between circa 1881-1886. (The town name changed after a merger with another commune, and is now known as Veneux-les-Sablons.) Sisley executed more than 25 oil paintings depicting various sites in Veneux-Nadon, in all seasons and weather conditions, mostly between the period of circa 1878-1882.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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