CHAMFORT (Sébastien-Roch-Nicolas). 2 autograph letters to sc - Lot 169

CHAMFORT (Sébastien-Roch-Nicolas). 2 autograph letters to sculptor Jean-Denis Antoine. Paris, s.d. Paris, n.d. "I have the honor of presenting my most humble compliments to Monsieur Antoine. I've just arrived from the country, where I finished the work in question. I have benefited from all the criticisms and observations made of me, and would be delighted to have his opinion. I am desperate not to have spoken of him yesterday to M[a]d[am]e Vestris whom I saw for a while and at whose house I am dining today [the actress Françoise-Rose Gourgaud, known as Rose Vestris]. I'm sure her name would have been enough to give her the idea. Oiserois-je l'inviter à lui faire un peu avant dîner une visite qui reparera ma faute, ou si cela dérangeroit Monsieur Antoine ne pouvait-il pas y venir après son dîner. We could leave together. If this arrangement does not suit him either, would he please let me know where it would be more pleasant for me to be, either the Tuilleries or the Luxembourg, from five o'clock until eight..." (one p. in-4, address on back). --Paris], "this Thursday morning". "I am sorry, Monsieur, that you have taken the trouble to stop by twice, and that I have explained myself so badly in my bill. I would ask you to kindly let me know the day and time and place that would suit you in an afternoon this week from Sunday inclusive. As I have received no news from you, I have decided to use my afternoons, which I never spend at home in such a beautiful season. I am free Friday and Saturday from half past five to eight, and I beg you to let me know if you will be. If you want me to pick you up at your place, or at the Luxembourg or the Thuilleries, at the Palais-Royal or at my place, it's up to you, depending on whether your business takes you to these different areas. But in this case I would ask you to let me know before two o'clock. I am so overwhelmed with business that I am obliged to give up my morning horseback rides, which the heat makes less pleasant, which is why I was unable to have the honor of seeing you at your home...". (3/4p. in-4, address on spine, small tear in address leaf due to opening, without affecting text). Secretary to the princes and then to the Jacobin Club, the writer and publicist Chamfort (1741-1794), author of a successful play, was employed in 1776-1777 as secretary to the Prince de Condé, then from 1784 as secretary to the cabinet of Madame Élisabeth, sister of LouisXVI. A brilliant conversationalist and letter-writer, close to Madame Helvétius, he was elected to the Académie française in 1781. A fervent supporter of new ideas, he became involved in the revolutionary adventure, serving for a time as secretary of the Jacobin Club. He befriended Mirabeau and Talleyrand, for whom he wrote reports and speeches, contributed to numerous newspapers, and undertook with Pierre-Louis Ginguené the monumental Tableaux de la Révolution. Under the Terror, knowing he was under suspicion by the Committee of General Safety, he took his own life. RARE. Joint: VOLTAIRE (François-Marie Arouet dit). Early manuscript copy of a letter to President Charles de Brosses. Ferney, August 19, 1768. Concerning his virulent quarrel with his correspondent over the Tourney land he had bought from him.