MONET (Claude). Autograph letter signed in purple crayon. Gi - Lot 186

MONET (Claude). Autograph letter signed in purple crayon. Giverny (Eure), May 1, 1917. 2pp.1/2 in-8; envelope retained. Claude Monet planned to depict the cathedral damaged by German bombing in September 1914. "Dear friend, yesterday I had a visit from Messieurs Clémentel and Dalimier, and I was very sorry that you were not on this little trip. I don't know what will be the result of their combination for my car, but in any case they are being very obliging. There has been a lot of talk about the famous carpet. It'll give me one more thing to worry about, which isn't a bad thing at the moment. And then, perhaps he told you about it. I've agreed to go to Rheims (or at least when the [o]buses stop falling there) to paint the cathedral as it is. I'm very interested. I hope that this [time] you will be able to read me better. I send you my best regards, your Claude Monet". MP Albert Dalimier was then Under-Secretary of State for Fine Arts, and Étienne Clémentel, who had originally followed an artistic career, was Minister of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture: it was through the latter that Claude Monet obtained passes for his wartime transport of paintings.