Marc Chagall TLS: "You cannot imagine what pleasure it will give me, as I like very much to work, inspiring myself by [listening to] classical music"

A 1p typed letter in French signed by modern artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985) as "Marc Chagall" at lower right. N.d., but ca. mid-1940s. Written at Trowbridge Farm, a hotel in Kyserike, New York, a hamlet of Rochester in Ulster County. On watermarked typing paper. Expected wear including minor paper folds, isolated closed tears, and minor chipped edges, else near fine. 8.5" x 11."

Chagall wrote this letter to his friend Adolphe Juviler, a devoted collector of modern art whose collection included works by Chagall himself. Juviler's day job was as a radio and television company executive. Evidently Juviler's contacts in the electronics industry enabled him to gift a radio-gramophone to Chagall and daughter Ida (1916-1994). Chagall maintained that listening to classical music inspired him to work.

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

"Temporary address:
Trowbridge Farm,
Kyserike, N.Y.

Dear friend,

I thank you very much for your very kind intention to give me, as well as Ida, a radio-gramophone machine. You cannot imagine what pleasure it will give me, as I like very much to work, inspiring myself by [listening to] classical music. Ida will also be very happy, and as she will soon celebrate a birthday, it comes at just the right moment.

According to my information the electric current here is A.C. I appreciate very much your intention to deliver it to the country. I will be at the following address after Sunday, the 28th: Box 108, High Falls, N.Y.

I hope that you are well as well as your family, and I hope to see you soon,

Best wishes,

[signed] Marc Chagall."

Translator's note: Chagall's original message in French did not include any accent marks, and contained several spelling and typographical errors.

The letter, though undated, is probably from the mid-1940s, right before Chagall relocated to High Falls, New York, a quiet community in the Catskills. Around 1945, Chagall began a relationship with his already-married housekeeper, Virginia Haggard McNeil. The pair would have a child, David, in 1946, and they purchased a cottage on Mohonk Road in High Falls in advance of the due date. Chagall was extremely productive in High Falls, creating approximately 100 sketches, paintings, and lithographs before selling the house in 1952. Art historians remark that Chagall's time in High Falls marks a definite change in his artistic style. His renewed interest in art also heralded a positive change, as Chagall had essentially stopped working following the death of his first wife Bella in 1944.

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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