GÉRICAULT Théodore (1791-1824). Lot n° 101

L.A., "Lundy quand je croyais être à samedy" [late summer 1822?], to Mme TROUILLARD, rue de Richelieu no. 398 in Paris; 3 pages in-8, addressed (hole by broken seal with loss of a few letters, and small cracks in folds). Naughty letter to his mistress, while Géricault is bedridden following a fall from a horse. "I only received your Thursday letter this morning, which announces your return, and you will certainly not doubt the pleasure it gives me, even though I have not been to meet you, but the means, I ask you, when one is almost down to one leg, and instead of being on duty one is ridiculously stretched out in one's bed, and even in my bed is not the word, for I am in my friend Dorcy's bed, who has kindly given me hospitality, having for the moment neither fire nor place. This will perhaps explain to you many little things which must have shocked you by giving you a rather singular idea of me. Finally, the wandering Jew has not wandered any more than I have since you left me. Today, a lucky day, I received a thousand pretty things, I kissed the little white box, and what it contained was disgust and hatred? You fool! I love you too much for what you deserve - and especially for my condition, because to know you so close to me without being able to kiss you tightly, you must be all fresh, all coming out of the sea like Venus at last, and a thousand little loves have come back with you. When I told you that I had only one leg left, it was quite wrong, for I have one that could well be three, so strange has it grown. I saw your friend Dupuitrin [DUPUYTREN] who on the first day wanted to perform an operation to restore it, but on the second day he no longer considered it appropriate and preferred to wait and see what nature could do, and I am waiting and he is waiting and you are waiting too, aren't you, my dear love? Do you think you have been faithful to me, for one could very well send oysters and pastilles from the seraglio etc. etc. This possibility worries me. Write to me by post to tell me what your opinion is on this matter, and perhaps you will reassure me afterwards. However, I don't know to what extent I have the right to complain, I am very old, very infirm and not very well suited to, but you see, my friend, I also know how to put myself in my place. Farewell, my angel, I am sure I will keep you busy for a long time to come if, as you say, you do not want to leave me until you see me healthy, vigorous and strong. I still have nothing of all this, but you must do something about it, for I cannot wish to lose you, and yet I am in great need of my leg at least"... He gives his address: "Rue Taitbout n° 9 chez Mr Dorcy Dedreux" [the painter Pierre-Joseph Dedreux-Dorcy (1789-1874), in whose arms he will die].