PUVIS DE CHAVANNES PIERRE: (1824-1898) French Painter. Best known for his works on mural painting. Zola described ...

PUVIS DE CHAVANNES PIERRE: (1824-1898) French Painter. Best known for his works on mural painting. Zola described his work as `An Art made of Reason, Passion and Will´ A very interesting content and lengthy A.L.S., `P. Puvis de Chavannes´, four pages, 8vo, Paris, 12th February 1892, to Monsieur Renaud, in French. Puvis de Chavannes firmly disagrees with the hall where his work will be exhibited and urges to make a decision, stating in part `Plus je pense à l´entretien que nous avons eu et plus je m´affermis dans l´idée qu´il est urgent de prendre une decision radicale… En acceptant de peindre la salle, je me suis rendu compte…que pour bien des raisons la rend indécorable à moins d´un changement absolu…´ (''The more I think about the meeting we had and the more I strengthen myself in the idea that it is urgent to take a radical decision… By agreeing to paint the room, I realized… that for many reasons it makes it undecorable unless a we fully change it''), Puvis de Chavannes further explains the importance and consequences of such decision, saying `Je serais donc par ce fait privé à jamais d´une oeuvre consciencieuse et qui doit compter dans ma carrière - Est-ce admissible?´ (''I would therefore be deprived for ever of a conscientious work and which should count in my career - Is this admissible?''), and before concluding suggests the only possible solution stating `Voyez quelle solution bien simple…On me rend ma toile…et je n´ai pas le chagrin de voir défigurée une oeuvre à laquelle je tiens..´ (''See what is a very simple solution… I get back my canvas… and I don't have the sorrow to see disfigured a work I care about. ''). Small overall minor age wear, with few very minor stains, otherwise G