PISSARRO (Camille). Autograph letter signed... - Lot 23 - Osenat

PISSARRO (Camille). Autograph letter signed to his niece Alice Isaacson. Paris, June 29, 1889. 4 pp. in-8, mourning border; framed under two-sided glass with photographic portrait. "My dear Alice, while waiting for a long letter from Esther bringing me up to date on the little matters concerning George, his plan of conduct and studies, I am writing to bring you up to date on the affairs of the estate, simply to get your opinion, for with your good sense and great fairness, you put things in their proper place. I am afraid that in spite of your father's experience we will not get anywhere, we are dealing with unscrupulous people who are, I think, determined to evade this matter. Between us, if Marie was honest, wouldn't she have already settled this matter? Without even involving her husband, saving him all the trouble and remorse. On the contrary, didn't she already tell Amélie and even, I believe, persuaded her that we could not claim anything, our father being a partner had to bear the losses. You see grandfather disinheriting his children to favor one, as I told Amélie, it is not possible that Marie could imagine that. What do you say? Another thing. I am certain that I have seen the deed of association in my mother's papers in the past. We had a good look around, nothing... What happened to this document? Without which no claim is possible. I hope that your father will find a way to get this paper. It bothers me to take care of all these things, but it seems to me to be taking a suspicious turn. It seems to me that if Alfred [Camille Pissarro's brother] is honest, he must know if there [was] an association. He knows that I am in misery, why would he want to frustrate me. Is it possible to have so little heart, this procrastination proves their evil purpose. How well I sensed these people! I can't wait to leave Paris and go to Éragny [his house in Éragny-sur-Epte, in the Oise] to forget these miseries, I hope to do a little business again these days and I will leave, and I will let you know. I hope that Georges is kind to you, recommend him without seeming to be, to take care of his spelling a little more, without seeming to be, he is lazy to look up in his dictionary. WHAT DOES Mr. H. BY (AS HE WRITE ME) SAY [FOR ASHBEE], does he see anything good for him? Now that Esther has been relieved of the burden of Pauquy [?] House (is that how you say it) which weighed so heavily on her shoulders, now that she is no longer building Eiffel Towers out of towels, she will have time to think of friends, so I expect a brilliant letter from her, and from you, my dear Alice, just a few lines, full of that great calm and correctness of view which characterizes you. I RECEIVE A LETTER FROM GEORGE WITH DETAILS ABOUT SCHOOL, I am very happy that he finds it to his liking. I hope that he will apply himself firmly and that he will know how to make himself loved by HIS MASTERS, SO DEVOTED AND INTELLIGENT OF ART THINGS. I hope, when I am rid of all my little troubles, to go to London and make the acquaintance of Mr. Ashbee..." ARCHITECT CHARLES ROBERT ASHBEE, ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT, had founded at Toynbee Hall (in London), the Guild and School of Handicraft, where one of Camille Pissarro's sons, Georges, had just been admitted. SUCCESSION OF CAMILLE PISSARRO'S MOTHER. From a first marriage to Isaac Petit, Rachel Manzana Pomié had had a daughter, Emma, then remarried to Frédéric Abraham Gabriel Pissarro, from whom she had had the painter Camille Pissarro. Emma in turn married Phineas Isaacson, a merchant in the West Indies (like Camille's father), from whom she had Alice, Esther, Amélie, Marie and Alfred. In 1889, one of Camille Pissarro's sons, Georges, was living with the Isaacsons in London, and would soon marry Esther.