COURBET (Gusta ve). Autograph letter signed to... Lot 28

COURBET (Gusta ve). Autograph letter signed to Cherubino Pata. La Tour-de-Peilz [on the shores of Lake Geneva, near Montreux, Switzerland], March 27, 1876. 4 pp. in-8. On his efforts to obtain an end to the proceedings against him and permission to return to France. Very involved in the activities of the Commune, Gustave Courbet had already served ten months in prison, then went into exile in Switzerland to escape further proceedings aimed at making him pay for the resettlement of the Vendôme column which he had helped to bring down. "Tired of the lawyers, I have written a letter to the Senate and to the House, which I am sending to you. There are about 800 copies which must be distributed at this very moment by the publication office, I believe Bonnard, rue Jean-Jaques Rousseau, on all the desks of these gentlemen.... Three days ago, I sent Castagnary [his friend the art critic and politician Jules-Antoine Castagnary] a copy of this letter, but he hasn't replied to me yet. I am determined to send it, even though it would not be considered political, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE IN A POSITION THAT IS SAME LONGER THAN THREE YEARS, LONGER LONGER. Outside the Chamber, Mr. Bonnard or other can send the remaining copies to all newspapers in Paris and the province. All these expenses are my business. SELL THE SNOWBOARD FOR 500 F... I WAS SURE THE AMNESTY WOULDN'T PASS, VICTOR HUGO WENT AHEAD TOO SOON... "Gustave Courbet also mentions his home town of Ornans, and various personalities favourable or hostile to him. PUPIL AND ASSISTANT OF GUSTAVE COURBET, THE PAINTER CHERUBINO PATA also served as his agent when he went into exile in Switzerland.