GÉRICAULT (Théodore). Autograph letter signed to Pierre-Anne - Lot 32

Lot n° 32
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GÉRICAULT (Théodore). Autograph letter signed to Pierre-Anne - Lot 32
GÉRICAULT (Théodore). Autograph letter signed to Pierre-Anne Dedreux. Florence, October 16 [1816]. 3 pp. in-folio, address on the back. "My dear friend, I will have in a few days the pleasure to embrace you. You are the closest to me, now that I have left my parents and your dear brother: so I shall overwhelm you with my friendship, I have a need to see someone I know that you must imagine. I have been separated from everyone for nearly a month. I have only seen indifferent people since then, so the idea of joining you pleases me immensely. WE WILL BE ABLE TO TALK TOGETHER ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE LEFT EACH OTHER, ABOUT OUR PLEASURES AND OUR SORROWS, ABOUT OUR COUNTRY, FOR IT BECOMES VERY DEAR WHEN WE ARE AWAY FROM IT. WE WILL SPEND OUR TIME IN THIS WAY AND THEN BY WORKING HARD WE WILL ARRIVE MORE EASILY AT THE TIME OF THE RETURN. I think, my dear, that you know Italian and that you will be able to guide me a little in the study of this language, because I want to learn it as soon as I arrive so that I will no longer feel the detestable embarrassment of not being able to make myself heard by others and of not hearing them themselves. We will study together if you like, or you can tell me who your teacher is. If you also had the time to find me a small, inexpensive room, because in Rome you don't have to spend your money on rent. I am asking you this because you might know of something that would suit me, either a boarding house with a good and honest family, or with an innkeeper. Perhaps it is also necessary to have a workshop. Please be so kind as to take care of this as I would do for you, if I had preceded you to Rome. Dorcy will soon be with us, perhaps he will come in the spring with his sister. He has expressed to me a strong desire to do so. I will wait for him, I admit, impatiently and I will encourage him to come by several letters. I will not give you much news here, I prefer to tell you all this to yourself and in person. Only four days separate us, I will hurry to make a few visits here and then I'll get carried away. Please remind me of Picot and Pallière and of Mr. Vinchon, whom I don't know as well but whom I love and esteem as much for his qualities and good manners as for his talent. Forestier is also a friend of mine, and I urge you not to forget me [painters François-Édouard Picot, Louis-Vincent-Léon Pallière, Jean-Baptiste Vinchon and Henri-Joseph de Forestier]. If I know of any others whom I do not remember, please be my interpreter. I am bringing some small items for Mr. Thévenin, your director [the painter Charles Thévenin was then head of the French Academy in Rome, at the Villa Medici], and some clothes for you. Prepare to make your legs beautiful because I seemed to see a thin pair of pants. Your mother is doing very well, as are your children and their mother. My father says a thousand things to you and flatters himself that you will be my mentor, but if I believe some rumors, I may need to be yours instead. I promise to do my job well, and anything I find objectionable, I will blame. Have the same friendship for me. All yours... " THE ITALIAN STAY: Théodore Géricault had done much of his training with the master of the neoclassical school, Pierre-Narcisse Guérin, first in the latter's studio, as early as 1810, and then at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Despite a first success at the Salon of 1812, thanks to an equestrian painting, he failed to win the Prix de Rome in 1816, but decided to pay for a stay in Italy, as he wanted to perfect his training in contact with the masterpieces of Italian art, particularly those of the Renaissance. He arrived in Florence in October 1816 and then went to Rome where he stayed for almost a whole year. There he met Pierre-Anne Dedreux, a resident at the Villa Medici as an architect, and brother of his close friend the painter Pierre-Joseph Dedreux-Dorcy.
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