Marc Chagall TLS: "I am very touched that you agree to collaborate in my exhibitions"

A 1p typed letter in French signed by modern artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985) as "Marc Chagall" at center right. Written in Vence, France on November 18, 1958 on a single leaf of stationery with "'Les Collines' / Vence / (A.M.)" [trans: "'The Hills' / Vence A[lpes] M[aritimes]"] letterhead. Expected wear including minor paper folds and wrinkles, with some isolated closed tears and chipped edges. Several repairs to closed tears verso, else very good. 8.25" x 10.625." Accompanied by the original transmittal envelope bearing Chagall's typed signature verso. Bearing the usual cancelled stamps and philatelic markings, and letter-opened at top.

Chagall wrote this letter to his friend Adolphe Juviler, a devoted collector of modern art whose collection included works by Chagall himself.

Translated in full, with punctuation silently added to improve clarity:

"November I8, I958

Dear friend Juviler,

Thank you for your letter of November 8th; it gave me great pleasure. I am very touched that you agree to collaborate in my exhibitions.

I regret very much that you have been sick and I rejoice to know that you are now in better health.

I am happy to read in your letter that you will come see your pictures at my exhibitions. And I hope that that will be an excellent occasion for us to see each other again.

My wife joins me in sending you as well as Madame Juviler and your children, our very friendly remembrance.

Affectionately your,

[signed] Marc Chagall."

It is not known which of Chagall's works Juviler had agreed to loan for the upcoming exhibitions. Adolphe Juviler owned at least two works by Chagall, "The Madonna of the Village" (1938-1942) and "Listening to the Rooster" (1944). Juviler had loaned both Chagall paintings to New York City's Museum of Modern Art for inclusion in its Marc Chagall retrospective held twelve years earlier, in the spring of 1946.

Very little information can be found about Chagall's correspondent, Adolphe Juviler. He was French-speaking, and possibly a naturalized citizen of the United States. Juviler served as the chairman of the Olympic Radio and Television Inc., of Long Island City, and was also the president of International Resistance Company, a manufacturer of resistors, key components of early televisions. Juviler channeled his business acumen into art collecting.

Juviler's art collection was described by "Time" Magazine in 1961 as "a choice, if uneven, selection of modern paintings, sculpture, and drawings" which included works by Marc Chagall, Pierre Bonnard, and Chaim Soutine. In the fall of 1961, Juviler and his wife decided to thin out his art collection. The prestigious Manhattan auction house Parke-Bernet Galleries handled the sale of 39 works of art, garnering over $1 million in sales, and enabling the wealthy couple from New York and Palm Beach to devote more time to travel.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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