Eugène DELACROIX's Rare Long Autographed Letter to Félix Désiré DEHÈQUE

  

Signed autograph letter to Félix Désiré Dehèque. Signed autograph letter, Paris, March 18, 1833, 3 pages in-4°, to Félix Désiré Dehèque. Beautiful letter in which the artist expresses his dissatisfaction to the secretary of the census council of the 10th Legion of the National Guard. Although he had already stood guard ten days earlier, the sergeant-major declared that he had to return to his post the next day despite his future dismissal before the census council. Having already given his word for work the next day, it was too late to withdraw.

In addition, the reporting captain insisted on presenting his conduct as blameworthy and considering his attestations as "a matter of complacency". Félix Désiré Dehèque is a French Hellenist, a member of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres, who was also secretary at the town hall of the current 7th arrondissement. His colleague Léon Heuzey recalls his involvement in these terms: "Not obtaining as quickly as he desired the regular position he needed, he accepted temporarily the functions of secretary at the town hall of the tenth district of Paris, which is the seventh today. The seriousness of his new duties and the awareness of the services he rendered gradually attached him to occupations that gave him the opportunity to do a lot of good.

One would have to not have known the character of this excellent and naturally devoted man to be surprised by it. This purely administrative function, through which he had only to pass, thus became, for forty-three years, his official career, which he knew how to pursue simultaneously with his scientific career, without harming either of them, both of which owed him their activity. Dehèque, Directory of the Association for the Encouragement of Greek Studies in France, Vol. In accordance with the process you had kindly found for me, I presented to the Council on Friday...

I found in the reporting captain an unkind obstinacy in presenting my conduct as very blameworthy, continually implying that the attestations I produced were a matter of complacency between my captain and me. Nevertheless, after I declared that my intention was to return to the 10th. The council, instead of sending me before the census council as you had led me to hope they would, decided that I would immediately do the service. The sergeant-major declared that I was ordered for the next day (Saturday), I represented to him that, expecting to be sent before the census council, I had made commitments that made it absolutely impossible for me to go to my new post. The President of the council himself felt the appropriateness of my objections, urging Mr. Riant to arrange this with me. Unfortunately, it could not be so.

Riant showed himself entirely unwilling, absolutely refusing to strike me off the list, as he said that the number of his men was complete. I apologize a million times, sir, for troubling you for so long with this matter: but I seemed to remember when I had the honor of seeing you that you had obtained from Mr.

Riant to postpone his guard duty, given the decision not yet made in my case. It appears, on the contrary, that he did not take into account beforehand the action that could be taken in my regard. This measure, as you see, sir, seems to inevitably bring me back before a new council, a very unpleasant waste of time, I admit.

It was absolutely impossible for me, given the urgency, to break my word vis-à-vis the people to whom I had given a date for my work the next morning. On the other hand, I had stood guard in my company ten or twelve days ago, which you will agree could. Slightly exceed the limits of my good will. I would have explained all this myself, if the hope of delivering various works to the Salon, which I am working on, had not prevented me from coming to ask your forgiveness for all the fatigue and effort that this matter, which is essentially so simple, costs you. So, I must once again rely on your obliging kindness to recommend it to you; if, however, it is necessary for us to speak in person, would you be kind enough to write me a note: I would immediately follow your advice.

Receive, sir, with my renewed thanks, the assurance of the high esteem with which I have the honor to be. Your very obedient servant, Eug Delacroix. Secretary of the Census Council of the 10th. At the town hall of the 10th.

English and Russian translations available on request. SHILTONSON is a member of the National Union of Ancient and Modern Bookstores / International League of Ancient Bookstores. A tear on the last leaf due to a broken seal. Eugène Delacroix is a French painter considered the main representative of Romanticism, whose vigor corresponds to the extent of his career. At the age of 40, his reputation is sufficiently established to allow him to receive important commissions from the State.

Noticed at the Salon in 1824, he produced in the following years works inspired by historical or literary anecdotes as well as contemporary events. Or from a trip to the Maghreb. Women of Algiers in their Apartment. Félix Désiré Dehèque is a French Hellenist.

A former student at the Normal School, a member of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres, he is notably the author of a (1825), and a translation of. His daughter Élisabeth married the Hellenist Émile Egger in 1845. More information on Eugène Delacroix.

More information on Félix Désiré Dehèque. This is an authentic letter. Our letters are accompanied by a descriptive sheet including a transcription.

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