137
137
Magritte, René
SEVEN AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED (“RENÉ MAGRITTE”) TO THE COLLECTORS ROSE AND JOSEPH CAPEL IN ARGENTINA, 1960-1966
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6,000 — 8,000
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137
Magritte, René
SEVEN AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED (“RENÉ MAGRITTE”) TO THE COLLECTORS ROSE AND JOSEPH CAPEL IN ARGENTINA, 1960-1966
Estimate
Hash Mark
Only used in United Kingdom Book catalogues. As the majority of lots in a book catalogue will be defined as books for VAT purposes and therefore not liable to VAT on either hammer price or buyers premium, this symbol is used to indicate where the lot does not meet the appropriate definition. The lot will be sold subject to the margin scheme and an amount in lieu of VAT at 20% will be charged upon the premium only
6,000 — 8,000
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Details & Cataloguing

Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts and Continental and Russian Books

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Magritte, René
SEVEN AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED (“RENÉ MAGRITTE”) TO THE COLLECTORS ROSE AND JOSEPH CAPEL IN ARGENTINA, 1960-1966
in French, expressing his sorrow over a damaged painting by him, owned by Rose and Joseph Capel which was impossible to repair and offering, therefore, to replace it with his gouache L’Ecole buissonière; discussing letters and drawings by Paul Colinet with a view to publication; reflecting on the question of symbolism in art, in relation to his painting La Poitrine and if painting can express ideas and sentiments ("La peinture est incapable d’exprimer desiblées des idées et des sentiments. La peinture ... se borne à montrer"), sharing his views on fellow painter, Salvador Dalí, whom he describes as an artist without true freedom of thought, as well as Giorgio de Chirico and Max Ernst, whom he praises as the only artists to be of interest to him

7 letters in all, nine pages, 8vo and 4to, one on printed letterhead stationery, two on postcards (including three autograph envelopes), two letters to Joseph Capel and five to his wife Rose, Brussels, 16 April 1960 to 2 February 1966, minor creasing


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Provenance

Rose and Joseph Capel, Argentina, thence by descent to the present owners

Literature

David Sylvester (ed.), Sarah Whitfield & Michael Raeburn, René Magritte, Catalogue Raisonné, Antwerp, 1994, vol. IV, appendix no. 140, catalogued p. 325

Catalogue Note

Rose Capel was the editor of Le ciel bleu, a Belgian periodical published in 1945 which featured articles and illustrations by a variety of international artists, such as André Breton, Pablo Picasso as well as Magritte, who wrote two articles in total. The Belgian Surrealist poet Paul Colinet, a close friend of Magritte, collaborated as rédacteur en chef. Painted in 1946, L'Ecole buissonnière was given by the artist to Rose and Joseph Capel in 1960. It was sold at Sotheby's in the sale of Surrealist Art, 28 February 2018, lot 37.

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Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts and Continental and Russian Books

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