Claude Monet - Autograph Letter Signed - Sells Paintings & Wife's Fatal Illness

Description

CLAUDE MONET
.  Claude Monet (1840–1926) was a highly influential French painter who was among the leading figures of the impressionist movement, which took its name from the title of one of Monet’s works.
IMPORTANT AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY CLAUDE MONET TO HIS CLOSE FRIEND AND BIOGRAPHER
Important autograph letter in French signed by, “Claude Monet,” in violet ink to Gustave Geffroy (1855-1926), a well-known art critic and author who was a close friend to and the biographer of Monet.  The letter is four pages, measures octavo, created in Giverny on December 12, 1910, in fine condition with fading to the ink on the last page, and beautifully matted and framed with a black and white photograph of Monet, a reproduction of Monet’s painting, a descriptive plaque, and the letter having been hinged for viewing on both sides.
MONET SELLS SEVERAL OF HIS PAINTINGS, INSURES THE PAINTINGS IN HIS POSSESSION, AND DISCUSSES EXTENSIVELY HIS SECOND WIFE’S FATAL ILLNESS JUST SIX MONTHS BEFORE HER DEATH
Monet sells several of his paintings to Geffroy, insures the paintings in his possession, and discusses extensively his second wife Alice’s fatal illness and the impact it is having on him just six months before her death: “I thought that after reaching a decision, you would send me a voucher for the paintings that you are keeping...I hope at least that nothing untoward has happened to you which prevents you from writing to me.  Here things are not going very well; since Vasquez’ arrival, my dear sick one has suffered three more incidents of liver malfunction. These left her rather down and weak, given that she cannot eat. She finds this rather discouraging. This causes me great distress. Even if our doctor tries to reassure me, I am still very worried...I am insured here for a certain number of paintings, as a whole, but I think you should take care of the insurance yourself.  Otherwise I will be forced to make revisions every time a painting leaves my house. I am sorry to cause you so much trouble but I think it is for the best.”
“I THOUGHTS THAT AFTER REACHING A DECISION, YOU WOULD SEND ME A VOUCHER FOR THE PAINTINGS THAT YOU ARE KEEPING...HERE THINGS ARE NOT GOING VERY WELL; SINCE VASQUEZ’ ARRIVAL, MY DEAR SICK ONE HAS SUFFERED THREE MORE INCIDENTS OF LIVER MALFUNCTION.  THESE LEFT HER RATHER DOWN AND WEAK, GIVEN THAT SHE CANNOT EAT. SHE FINDS THIS RATHER DISCOURAGING. THIS CAUSES ME GREAT DISTRESS...I AM INSURED HERE FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PAINTINGS, AS A WHOLE”
Three similar autograph letters signed by Monet recently sold for ,500 at International Autograph Auctions in May 2016, ,072 at RR Auction in November 2016, and ,125 at Swann Auction Galleries in November 2016.