Jean François Millet: His Life and Letters

📖 The Scoop

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 Excerpt: ... wide views of the forest and plain. "The view from the upper studio will be glorious," he wrote to Sensier, when the plan was first proposed, in September, 1859. "I am longing to be there already, for it will be of the greatest use to me. Rousseau has started for Besangon this morning, and I am a prey to the usual headaches." Another letter regarding the work which had been done for Sensier belongs to this autumn, and is among those published by Mr. Bartlett. "Thursday morning. "Mv Dear Sensier, --"Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were most religiously consecrated to curing myself of a bad headache, and this is why I have not answered your letter sooner, although I went yesterday evening to see Pere Ribouillard, whom I found seated in the corner of his fireplace, devouring a very large plate of soup. I mention this last fact because it was really a very fantastic picture. The room was dark and the candle was not lighted. As I have just said, Pere Ribouillard sat in the corner of the fireplace eating, while Euge'nie Be'lon was in the opposite corner, looking like a gnome, very busily engaged in eating soup out of an old kettle, and so intent on the task, that she never even turned her head as I came in. You can imagine what ornaments to the fireplace Pere Ribouillard and Euge'nie Be'lon were Though their faces were only dimly lighted by the little blaze on the hearth, you could easily see their general form. Mere Ribouillard, that old layer-out of dead bodies, sat between them. I asked Ribouillard what he wanted of you, and his wife replied that they heartily wished you would pay them a little money. Their bill was 15 francs for clearing the wood, and 17 sous for half a day's work. But my wife thinks the wood-clearing ought ...

Genre: Art / European (fancy, right?)