Bidspirit auction | GÉRICAULT THÉODORE: (1791-1824) An exceptionally

GÉRICAULT THÉODORE: (1791-1824) An exceptionally rare letter of Géricault to his closest friend - GÉRICAULT THÉODORE: (1791-1824) French painter and lithographer, one of the pioneers of the Romantic movement. An extremely rare A.L.S., Théodore Géricault , one page, 8vo, n.p. (Versailles?), n.d., to Pierre-Joseph Dedreux-Dorcy, in French. Géricault writes a charming letter to his closest friend, commencing ´Si vous etiez d´avis de faire aujourd´hui quelque promenade champêtre à la vallée du mont-morency par exemple ou bien a St. Leu qui est aux environs veuillez m´en prévenir je serai charmé de passer la journée avec vous´ (Translation: ´If you were thinking of going for a walk in the countryside today—to the Mont-Morency valley, for example, or to nearby St. Leu—please do let me know; I would be delighted to spend the day with you´ ) and further remarking ´Puis je en flatter que vous m´accorderez au moins le dimanche vous sacrifiez tout aux plaisirs de l´amour. J´eprouvé plus que jamais le besoin de me consoler par ceux que procure l´amitié´ (Translation: ´May I flatter myself that you will grant me at least Sundays, when you devote yourself entirely to the pleasures of love? I feel, more than ever, the need to find solace in the comforts of friendship´ ) before concluding ´Je serai au manège toute la matinée, passez y un moment´ (Translation: ´I shall be at the riding school all morning, do drop by for a while´ ). With integral address leaf. Autograph letters of Géricault are extremely rare owing to his tragically early death at the age of 32. Some light creasing and minor age wear, otherwise about VG Pierre-Joseph Dedreux-Dorcy (1789-1874) French genre painter, one of the closest friends of Géricault. When Géricault fell ill after a fall of his horse, he stayed with Dorcy for over a year. Dorcy afterwards was one of the few friends of Géricault present when he died on 18th January 1824. After Géricault's death, Dedreux-Dorcy bought his masterpiece The Raft of Medusa for 6000 francs, while the French government, bidding for the Louvre, wasn't willing to bid more than 5000 francs. He afterwards declined an offer to resell it to an American for thrice the price he paid, and sold it one week later to the French government for the same 6000 francs, on the condition that it was to be placed in the Louvre.