ICONOGRAPHIC RESEARCH - Lot 1

ICONOGRAPHIC RESEARCH FOR THE TEARS OF EROS BATAILLE (Georges). Autograph letter signed [probably to Joseph-Marie Lo Duca]. Fontenay-le-Comte [in the Vendée department], March 1, 1961. 4 pp. in-8. "My dear friend, I was very happy yesterday, when I had the feeling that a long tunnel gives when the day reappears... Forgive me for returning today to the small issues, at least the essential ones. I think it's essential to have the photo of the MUSEE GUIMET, LE YI-DAM ET SA SAKHTI in MALRAUX's book (the first published by the Nrf des ouvrages sur l'art) [La métamorphose des dieux, 1957]. RENE MAGRITTE lives at 97 rue des Mimosas Brussels 3. And it's very important to write for the color of CARNAVAL DU SAGE either to Magritte himself, or to the publisher. Or both? Yesterday we didn't mention the FRESQUES DE LA VILLA DES MYSTERES DE POMPEI, of which you have the photos. For LES VASES DIONYSIAQUES, here are some indications that might help us reach a minimum: 1) in the Louvre, bowl G. 160. 2) in the Louvre (in principle, but perhaps in the B.N.) Amphora d'Amasis (coll. Luynes). 3) Cabinet des médailles, no. 357 [pointed amphora depicting Dionysios and his thiase, also from the Duc de Luynes collection]. I also believe you will easily find in the Cabinet des médailles L. B. Lawler's book The Mænads (Mem. of the American Acad. in Rome VI, 1927), in which the Munich 2344 amphora is reproduced (Lawler, pl. XXI, 4). Don't forget the question of the photo to be taken at the Musée de l'Homme in Bulletin de la société française préhistorique 1954 or 5, article [by Bernard Bétirac] on LES VENUS DE LA MAGDELEINE (the more sensual of the two). IT'S IMPORTANT, IT'S THE MOST CLEARLY EROTIC (BY FAR) OF THE PREHISTORIC PHOTOS. Now, an important question: can you get me a copy of the last few pages of the prehistory chapter as soon as possible: let's say the last two pages. How can I finish if I don't have these last pages... I've got to say it: I'm very tired, and it's hard for me to get back to work. However, your visit to Fontenay has comforted me... Best regards, Georges Bataille " Staying at the home of his friend André Costa, sub-prefect at Fontenay-le-Comte, Georges Bataille was busy writing his latest book, Les Larmes d'Éros, to be published in 1961 by Jean-Jacques Pauvert, in the "Bibliothèque internationale d'érotologie" directed by writer and film critic Jean-Marie Lo Duca.