JONGKIND (Johan Barthold). - Lot 127

JONGKIND (Johan Barthold). Born in Lattrop. 1819-1891. Dutch painter, watercolorist and engraver, considered one of the precursors of Impressionism. L.A.S. "Jongkind" to Monsieur Bascle (Paris), January 11, 1865. 5 1/2 pages in-8. Envelope enclosed with stamp, postmarks and red wax seal broken on opening. VERY BEAUTIFUL AND RARE LETTER FROM THE PAINTER JONGKIND TO HIS COLLECTING FRIEND (A WINE TRADER) THÉOPHILE BASCLE ABOUT A FUTURE EXHIBITION IN BORDEAUX :Jongkind thanks his friend Théophile Bascle for the New Year's gift of sweets: ...I received your letter of January 10 this morning and then just after noon the two boxes arrived. Containing 1° / cookies bordelaise 2°/ prunes d'ages (sic for dAgen) I have just tasted some. Excellent (...). Madame Fesser [her companion] and I rushed to open the crates to see the pleasant surprise. Little Jules has been in bed for 2 days. He caught hot and cold, probably in Luxembourg. The doctor came this morning (...). Immediately after your departure we tasted the box with candied fruit. In my New Year's letter, I forgot to tell you how delicious it was (...). I am happy to learn of your good journey and your good health and I thank you sincerely for your kindness and for telling me that you are satisfied with my paintings and I dare to recommend myself very much to your kindness to exhibit some of my paintings all the more, as I had an encouraging invitation to Exhibit in Bordeaux. The Paris Exhibition for the sending of works is I think March 10, so I'm obliged to work as hard as I can, to get some of my paintings because Paris is unique for me with so many celebrities.In order (sic for finally) before I finish this one it remains for me to tell you, that I still feel uneasy and since your departure I have not gone out even to dine at Biort's. I think that Prouha [the sculptor Pierre Bernard Prouha, closely linked to Jongkind], is well, I must go and see him tomorrow or the day after tomorrow...In the 1860s the painter Jongkind's material situation was to improve. In 1861, he moved to 5 rue de Chevreuse in Paris (which he never left), distanced himself from his tyrannical dealer Father Martin, and met his future companion, Joséphine Borrhee-Fesser, also of Dutch origin. From 1864 onwards, Jongkind travelled to Normandy, where he spent many holidays, bringing back some delightful watercolours, befriended Beugniet (the dealer of Isabey and Delacroix) and met the recipient of this letter, the Bordeaux wine merchant Théophile Bascle (1824-1882), an admirer and collector of the Dutch artist's paintings.