French sculptor and medalist (1788-1856). 3 autograph letters signed. Paris. 8vo and 4to. Together 6 pp. In French.
$ 1,914 / 1.800 €
(61585)
Beautiful correspondence with the librarian and fellow freemason Théodore le Breton (1803–1883), largely surrounding David d'Angers's work and the mutual interest in poetry. In the earliest letter from 20 December 1835, David d'Angers announces a bronze medal and talks about poets from lower classes as advocates of the people, particularly mentioning Pierre-Jean de Béranger, Robert Burns, and "a blacksmith" who "lives in a corner of England", possibly referring to Robert Hetrick, although he was Scottish, and who "describes what is continually in front of his eyes".
On the other hand, he criticizes Adam Billaud, a French carpenter and poet, for employing his genius to "laud the great" or treat "subjects of little interest": "Jusqu’à présent on s’est beaucoup occupé des classes de la société, mais le peuple n’a eu que fort peu d’avocats, si ce n’est notre Béranger, Burns l’écossais et un forgeron (ce dernier habite un coin de l’Angleterre), ceux là vivront éternellement dans le souvenir du peuple, qui, seul, a la mémoire du cœur, la poësie de ce forgeron est toute palpitante d’intérêt d’actualité, parce qu’il décrit ce qu’il a continuellement sous les yeux. - Je vous avoue que j’éprouve un sentiment pénible en lisant les vers d’Adam Billaud, qui sont presque toujours à la louange des grands ou bien qui ne traitent que des sujets de peu d’intérêt, il aurait du comprendre que Dieu en lui donnant du génie l’avait mis à même de remplir cette noble mission du poëte, qui est de travailler à rendre les hommes meilleur […]". - On 4 June 1840, David d'Angers, advises his friend to go see the young Mademoiselle Rachel perform in Rouen and make use of a letter of introduction to the actress that he announces to send: "Vous allez être bien heureux de posséder dans votre ville mademoiselle Rachel, c’est un sublime talent qui fera j’en suis sûr impression sur votre âme de poëte […] Allez y sans crainte, car elle a déjà fait connaissance avec vos productions, et les êtres doués de génie sont frères". He also mentions the completion of a bas-relief for the pedestal of his Gutenberg statue that would be inaugurated on 24 June in Strasbourg and promises to send an engraving of the completed monument to his friend. - Finally, on 1 August 1844, David d'Angers informed Théodore le Breton that he deposited a "small box containing a few proofs" of is most recent medals, an "engraving of the Bonchamps monument and the lithograph of the statue of Jean Bart" for him. He also mentions a medal honoring Marshal Ney with his "laurel-crowned" profile verso and a representation of his execution by firing-squad on the revers, a medal for Poland, and asks his friend to collect the model of the "statue of Bonchamps" from the Musée de Rouen. - An autograph letter signed about a visit to David d'Angers studio by "Lehmann's compatriots" and a legal document from 1851 relating to the artists are added..