COCTEAU JEAN: (1889-1963)

COCTEAU JEAN: (1889-1963) French poet, playwright, novelist, artist, filmmaker and critic. A wonderful illustrated A.L.S., Jean, one page, oblong 4to, n.p. (Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat), n.d. (1957), to Lady Michelham ( ´Ma tres chere amie´), in French. Cocteau writes, in full, ´Je vous embrasse mais avec mon travail de la chapelle il m´est impossible de descendre de mes echafandages avant le 15´ (Translation: ´I send you my love, but with my work from the chapel it is impossible for me to come down from my scaffolding before the 15th´) and in a postscript further remarks ´Pardonnez-moi Je suis couvert a fusain et de platre´ (Translation: ´Forgive me I am covered in charcoal and plaster´). The main body of the letter is penned within an attractive original pen and ink drawing by Cocteau of an aquatic creature with a human head and with the sea and sun in the background. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Cocteau to Lady Michelham at the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo. VG Lady Berthe Isabel Flora de Stern Michelham was the wife of Herman de Stern (1900-1984) 2nd Baron Michelham. Together they formed a fine collection of art and antiques which was bequathed to the State of Geneva. Cocteau refers to his restoration of the Chapelle Saint-Pierre which he decorated with murals celebrating the life of the saint and the local fishermen.