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MONET, CLAUDE. 1840-1926. Autograph Letter Signed ("Claude Monet") to his landlord Alexandre Flament about his monumental painting "Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe [Luncheon on the Grass]," 2 pp, 8vo (conjoining leaves), Giverny, January 10, 1884, image 1
MONET, CLAUDE. 1840-1926. Autograph Letter Signed ("Claude Monet") to his landlord Alexandre Flament about his monumental painting "Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe [Luncheon on the Grass]," 2 pp, 8vo (conjoining leaves), Giverny, January 10, 1884, image 2
MONET, CLAUDE. 1840-1926. Autograph Letter Signed ("Claude Monet") to his landlord Alexandre Flament about his monumental painting "Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe [Luncheon on the Grass]," 2 pp, 8vo (conjoining leaves), Giverny, January 10, 1884, image 3
Lot 74

MONET, CLAUDE. 1840-1926.
Autograph Letter Signed ("Claude Monet") to his landlord Alexandre Flament about his monumental painting "Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe [Luncheon on the Grass]," 2 pp, 8vo (conjoining leaves), Giverny, January 10, 1884,

11 December 2020, 10:00 EST
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MONET, CLAUDE. 1840-1926.

Autograph Letter Signed ("Claude Monet") to his landlord Alexandre Flament about his monumental painting "Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe [Luncheon on the Grass]," 2 pp, 8vo (conjoining leaves), Giverny, January 10, 1884, very mild toning, otherwise fine.

MONET ASKS HIS LANDLORD TO RETURN "LE DEJEUNER SUR L'HERBE." In full, translated: "I have meant to write to you for a long time about what belongs to me that is still with you and especially about my large painting that probably is very troublesome to you because of its size. Can you please be so kind as to give me news about the painting because I am now better paid here and I believe it would be possible for me to relieve you from keeping the painting. Having to organize myself in the near future, I would be very grateful if you could answer me as soon as possible and also inform me of what I would still owe you."
In 1865 Monet began work on "Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe," which originally measured 4 x 6 meters, as both a tribute and challenge to Manet's painting of the same name. He abandoned the project in 1866, when he gave the canvas to his landlord in lieu of rent. In this letter, Monet writes after nearly 20 years to say he has enough money to square himself and take the canvas back. Upon its return, however, he discovered that the canvas had gotten mouldy in the cellar where it was stored, and so he cut it up and kept only three fragments, only two of which survive to this day.

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