BAUDELAIRE Charles (1821-1867)

Lot 318
Go to lot
Estimation :
3000 - 4000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 5 200EUR
BAUDELAIRE Charles (1821-1867)
Autograph letter signed to George SAND, "August 19, 1855", 1 p. autograph in brown ink on 1 f. double in-8 of ivory wove paper. Slight traces of folding. Beautiful letter addressed to George Sand, concerning the poet's mistress Marie Daubrun. "Madame, I received your excellent letter on the 17th. I was therefore not mistaken in invoking your kindness. I wrote immediately to Miss Daubrun to inform me of what I had done without consulting her, and so that she would know to whom to address her thanks in the event that these gentlemen, thanks to you, should renew contact with her directly. As for me, it is presumed that they will not call me back, because of the rather abrupt and strange manner in which they broke off. If you have any news, happy or unpleasant, be good enough, Madam, to write two words. Please accept with my thanks the assurance of my most respectful sentiments." Ch. Baudelaire. 27, Rue de Seine. This is one of only two known letters from Baudelaire to George Sand, both relating to a service the poet requested for his mistress Marie Daubrun, with whom he was then having a tumultuous affair. This ravishing actress "with golden hair" inspired him to write several poems in Les Fleurs du mal, notably L'irréparable. She was then in trouble following a lawsuit with her former director. She had previously performed two plays by George Sand (Claudie and François le Champi). When she was approached to play in the drama Maître Favilla, which was to be staged at the Odéon, she asked Baudelaire for a very slight increase in her fee. He was brutally refused. On August 14, he wrote a long and very deferential letter to the author of the play, asking her to intercede on the artist's behalf. George Sand replied favourably on the 17th, prompting the present reply of thanks and discreet renewal of his request. This cynically courteous letter is obviously dictated by his desire to please his muse, and not out of respect for George Sand, whom he judged to be stupid, heavy and talkative "I cannot think of this stupid creature without a shudder of horror" ...
My orders
Sale information
Sales conditions
Return to catalogue