42 - DAVID, Jacques-Louis (1748–1825).

DAVID, Jacques-Louis (1748–1825). Letter from the author, “David,” Brussels, January 21, 1820, to his friend [Jean NAIGEON]; 3 pages, in-4. Letter written in exile regarding the negotiations for the sale of his paintings *The Sabine Women* and *Leonidas at Thermopylae* to the Royal Museums [through Jean Pierre DELAHAYE, a lawyer and the painter’s trusted confidant. In fact, Louis XVIII did not want to purchase these paintings directly from David, who had voted for the execution of his brother Louis XVI.] Note: Delahaye’s latest letter “has certainly dampened our enthusiasm,” due to “a difficulty on the part of the Ministry of the King’s Household regarding the clause on the engraving privilege that I had reserved exclusively for myself.” He was asked to agree to waive this privilege in order to sign the contract: “Truth be told, weary of the obstacles this clause posed, Mr. de Forbin [Auguste de FORBIN, a former student of David’s and Director General of the Royal Museums; despite the exile of the regicide David, it was Forbin who insisted on buying back his master’s masterpieces at a high price] having left on his journey, with no further support, and being at the mercy of people with whom I am not on good terms, I decided to press ahead,” and David decided to abandon the inclusion of this article in the contract. He was reminded that the same had been true for the acquisitions of paintings by other artists, “that an engraver would never have the audacity to undertake such a work, that it had not been done since my *Brutus* was exhibited […], that the government’s intention in purchasing my paintings was to involve young painters for their advancement, but not to make engravings of them”… It was above all his correspondent’s zeal on his behalf that persuaded him to act this way, but Forbin was too eager to transport the paintings from his former studio to the Musée du Luxembourg: “They now have them in their possession, and that is precisely what I wanted to avoid […]; but I swear that if they try once again to burden me with difficulties, I will immediately break the agreement and inform the public of it”… He asks Naigeon to go and “nudge” Delahaye a bit—who can be nonchalant and overly concerned with David’s interests—to advise him on this matter and to “resolve the difficulties regarding this engraving that are terrifying him.” He expresses his concern and does not want Naigeon to rely on Eugène [David’s son]: “I expect a response from you alone.” He adds that this letter must remain “confidential”…