DIÉTERLE (Jules) (1811-1889) - Lot 319

DIÉTERLE (Jules) (1811-1889) French painter, designer, architect and theater decorator, a major figure in 19th-century decorative arts, collaborator with the Paris Opera, the Louvre and numerous imperial factories. L.A.S. "Jules Diéterle", s.l. [Paris], s.d. (circa 1860-1880), 1 page in-8. Charming autograph letter addressed to a colleague or artistic collaborator, in which Jules Diéterle expresses his gratitude following a token of esteem or a tribute received. The artist writes in particular: "Most honored Master, you have gratified me for once [...] with a sentence of which none would be more beautiful in my eyes [...] happy and grateful...". Then he adds: "Please accept my sincere sentiments as your servant." This brief but elegant letter reveals the courteous and grateful nature of the artist, then at the peak of a career that saw him working on some of the most prestigious decorative projects of the Second Empire. The wording suggests appreciation or praise from his correspondent, to which Diéterle responds with modesty and gratitude. The large, well-formed autograph signature is perfectly identifiable. Jules Diéterle was an important figure in 19th-century French monumental decoration. A collaborator of Charles Séchan, he was involved in the decoration of numerous theaters, palaces and public buildings, and was notably inspector and then administrator of the Manufacture Nationale de Beauvais. A lovely personal letter from a leading figure in 19th-century French decorative arts. Condition: very good; original folds; a few scattered light foxings.