Jean AJALBERT (1863-1947). L.S. and L.A.S., Laubade par Sorbets September 1930, to Louis Anquetin; 13pages in-8, vignettes and letterhead, envelope. About tapestry commissions by the Manufacture de Beauvais to Anquetin. [Beauvais (of which Ajalbert was director) had ordered a series of four tapestries from Anquetin, inspired by the Great War, of which he was only able to produce the first two cartoons: Le Départ ou la Mobilisation (delivered in January 1926) and Le Retour (delivered in September 1919)] September 8. Ajalbert responds point by point to Anquetin's recriminations. "As a thank-you, I'm looking forward to being shouted at. I'm used to it. When I came to you in 1917 and, after much effort, finally got the order, I can see myself climbing your stairs. You hadn't done anything for a long time. I was hoping for a flash of joy. The only thanks I got was: "Oh, the bastards, it took them a long time to make up their minds. That was all. No doubt you don't owe the State any gratitude. But I thought I'd obliged you. And even if I was wrong, you couldn't make me feel that strongly. I swallowed my sensitivities and gave my all to the realization of your work. If it remains incomplete, with two panels - and if you haven't done all four, is it my fault? What a lot of useless steps, trying to get the brush back in your hand!"... Etc. - September 25th. After new and lengthy explanations, Ajalbert concludes: "In the end, would you please tell me that this discussion has no bearing on our friendship. If there were no admiration and friendship on my part, I would not have been moved by your complaints, which were painful to me, treating me like a careless, forgetful bureaucrat, or one acting in bad faith!"... Attached is the autograph draft of Anquetin's reply to the first letter (3p. in-fol. in pencil), responding to Ajalbert's reproaches: "And on top of that you accuse me of being a proud man, a man of money - and of having made you cash in on my bad temper for twelve years"....