Beschreibung:

Title: Printed letter of invitation to the first exhibition of 'Modern' French art in America Author: Cadart, Alphonse Place: [New York] Publisher: Date: [March 3, 1866] Description: Printed letter, signed in type. 1 page, approximately 8¼x5", with original envelope. Envelope addressed to multi-millionaire A.T. Stewart: “Before delivering to the appreciation of the public the gallery of Paintings, Etchings, Bronzes, Terra cotta and other specimens of Art that have been sent to New York by French Artists, we feel much flattered to offer to…Representatives of the Press and to the enlightened amateurs and protectors of art, the primeur of our exhibition…We live at a time and in a country where liberty of discussion exist without any restriction…even in matter of esthetic…old denominations of SCHOOLS are altogether out of date. We do not repudiate the appellation of REALISLS [sic] which is given us both by friends and adversaries – the first as an eulogium, the others as a sarcasm…the true and real signification the word implies. Realism means: Truth in Art…nothing else. Desirous of coming in intimate contact with the intelligent critic, we take the liberty, Sir, to invite you to a private exhibition….” The public opening, two days later, of the French Etching Club’s exhibition at the Fine Arts Gallery on Broadway, received only a small notice in the New York Times, But one art historian has called this “the first exhibition of modern French art” in America, including works by Corot, Daubigny, and Ribot, precursors of Impressionism. Ironically, though the inventory of the Exhibition when it later opened in Boston shows Manet to be one of the 150 members of Cadart’s Societe des Acquafortistes none of his work was included in this showing. That Boston imprint is rare – held only by the Fogg Museum at Harvard. But this may be the only surviving copy of Cadart’s introduction to the New York premier. Lot Amendments Condition: Creased from mailing; fine. Item number: 226440