Lot n° 103
Estimation :
1000 - 1500
EUR
Result with fees
Result
: 2 340EUR
GÉRICAULT Théodore (1791-1824). - Lot 103
GÉRICAULT Théodore (1791-1824).
8 L.A. from Mme TROUILLARD, [1822], to Théodore GÉRICAULT; 17 pages and a half in-8, 4 addresses (one to M. Dorcy).
Fiery love correspondence, of sufferings and then of rupture, during Géricault's illness. [Little is known about Géricault's affair with Mme Trouillard; these letters allow us to follow the twists and turns of this burning passion, until the break-up. Only one is exactly dated June 16, 1822 by the postmark; two are addressed to Géricault's home and studio, 23 rue des Martyrs, and one to 9 rue Taitbout (address of Dedreux-Dorcy, to whom a letter is also addressed)].
Friday evening. "Don't come tomorrow Saturday"; she is going to sleep at Courcelles. "I had the foolishness to wait for you, last night, today, to close my door to people who have at least some friendship for me, and whom I mistreat because of you [...] I don't want to wait for you any more, to wait for you uselessly. When I heard the bell ring at ten o'clock, it seemed to me as if a hammer was being struck on my head. [...] I am suffering horribly and you don't deserve that I tell you so. I want my portrait, I want it! [...I don't want to see you anymore"... "I spent a very bad night, and this morning here I am, sad, discouraged, [...] What a difference from yesterday, when my head was full of memories, and hope, and happiness, when I thought I could never love you enough to satisfy the needs of my heart! Ah, God, how you hurt me! [...] Why you take pleasure in embittering my character, making me foolish and cold, I can only explain that by thinking that you do not love me. [...] Yesterday, as I climbed these four flights of stairs, it seemed to me that I would never be able to love you enough, to caress you, and the emotion that these sweet thoughts gave me forced me to stop, in spite of my impatience to be near you, and I find you cold, sour, pungent, and you send me away desolate... [...] I cannot tell you all that I suffer... for I love you with all my soul, and I feel that I will never be happy with you [...] you make me die!"...
She had hesitated to go and see him: "Now you can be sure that I will no longer expose myself to the humiliation of being constantly refused or forgotten. M. Dorcy loves you very much and defends you very well; but it is impossible that he should persuade me... I have just spent a good two hours weeping"... [June 16, 1822]. Cécile returned sad and upset, Géricault having forbidden her door: "all this looks like a persecution. [...] By the way, do you need me, you, whose life is so full of hopes, memories, glory and happiness! What a folly, what a mistake to have been mixed up in all this!"... "I am much less proud than you; for in spite of the coldness with which you left me at your knees this morning, I still come to ask your pardon, if I have caused you any pain. I beg you to think of me [...] I fear you, I fear myself [...] You have been continually severe and caustic all night [...] I have nothing but regrets, and no hope of happiness, you have spoiled my life [...] I still ask you to see me. But if you refuse me, I can keep quiet and try to forget you. [...] Really, I assure you that we should not part with so much anger in our hearts. Ah, what a misfortune for me that you do not need to be loved"...
Friday night. "What a night I have spent! I held this unfortunate letter in my hand and with every movement the crumpling of the paper reminded me of it, it made me feel remorseful [...] Reading again last night another letter from you I found that you called me a divine creature, now I have changed a lot. My heart is depraved! I lack modesty, modesty &c... Ah! it is up to me to believe that you are mad, or wicked [...] Perhaps you will regret the heart that you have torn apart and misunderstood! - Here are all your letters. I will keep the last one and read it often as a safeguard against all kinds of tender and generous feelings. Ah, I was born to be unhappy, to be unloved... [...] Ah! I would like to be dead"...
TO DEDREUX-DORCY, begging him to let Dr. Biett see Géricault: "If it is for my sake that this instruction has been given, it is quite useless, for I neither wish nor want to see him again in my life"...
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