Liebermann, Max

the letters expressing his thanks for his description of the Association of XI, observing humorously that its one mistake is that it is too good, telling him that he requires some examples of Gothic or early Renaissance type for an alphabet he is drawing at the moment, asking whether might have a look through his treasures, reflecting on art and poetry, mentioning a picture he has sold for him, discussing business of the Prussian Academy of Arts, advising him how to vote, canvassing support apparently for his election to the Academy, requesting his presence and inviting him to a meeting, referring to his studio, asking that Cassirer be allowed to view his house, and enclosing tickets [not included here] for a performance by Yvette Guilbert; the sketch-drawing of Paul Meyerheim showing the artist in profile, executed in pencil and contained on the recto of a leaf of printed regulations for the Grosse Berliner Kunstausstellungen, the leaf annotated at the foot of the recto by August Grisebach ("Handzeichnung von Max Liebermann...Paul Meyerheim...8. Dec. 98. von meinem Vater von der Sitzung mitgebracht. August Grisebach"), Berlin, [8 December 1898?]

...ich beeile mich, Ihnen meinen besten Dank für Ihre Beschreibung der XI im Magazin auszudrucken. Dieselbe hat nur einen Fehler daß sie zu gut ist...



the letters 13 pages, 8vo and oblong 8vo, one on the reverse of a printed telegram, one on a printed visiting card, with an envelope postmarked Berlin-Wannsee, 31 July 1927, and an invitation in an unidentified hand on a card illustrated with an image of the Liebermann-Villa, Grosse Seestrasse 24, Berlin, 1892-1911, where indicated, creasing to leaf containing the sketch-drawing; together with a printed card acknowledging condolences on the death of Liebermann in February 1935

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A good collection of letters, mentioning the Association of XI, from which the Berlin Secession - with Liebermann as its leader - later sprang. The majority, which brim with the artist's vitality and native Berlin wit, are to the celebrated Berlin architect Hans Grisebach (1848-1904), who was entrusted by Liebermann in 1892 with designing a roof studio for his house by the Brandenburg Gate, Pariserplatz 7. At least one letter here was possibly written to Grisebach's son, the art historian August Grisebach (1881-1950).