Édouard Manet

Albrecht Hecht, Paris (a gift from the artist in 1879)
Mme Pontremoli, Paris
Mme Trenel, Paris
Private Collection, France (sale: Christie's, London, 6th February 2003, lot 403)
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

Denis Rouart & Daniel Wildenstein, Edouard Manet, Catalogue raisonné, pastels, aquarelles et dessins, Geneva, 1975, vol. II, no 591, illustrated p. 211 & in colour p.39

Executed on cream coloured laid paper, laid down on paper, which is T-hinged to the mount at two points along the top edge. There is restorer's tape supporting the verso of all four edges. Apart from a few spots of light foxing throughout, some overmount staining to the edges and some light surface dirt, this work is in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present letter reads:
Mon Cher ami, Je vais beaucoup mieux. Le bon air de Bellevue m'est tres favorable. Venez donc nous demander a déjeuner un de ces jours - vous nous ferez le plus grand plaisir. Amitiés, E. Manet 

In the autumn of 1879, Manet left Paris for the bucolic region of Bellevue, a popular holiday destination in Ile-de-France. During this stay he wrote many elegant and personal letters to pass the time, often adorned with brilliantly observed watercolours of fruit, flowers, animals and insects, demonstrating his mastery of the medium of watercolour. In Lettre à Albrecht Hecht, Manet's unmatched ability to render the texture of fruit in his oil paintings is here transformed into a fresh and spontaneous depiction in watercolour. These breathtaking painted decorations reveal a more intimate side of the artist at a moment of rest, as suggested by the relaxed tone of this letter inviting his friend Albrecht Hecht for lunch.