DLA005-0016  Translation

[Embossed letterhead: LE FIGARO]

address to BOYER d’AGEN

Paris, 69 rue des Dames

Paris, the 1st of May 1900

Sir,

Those gentlemen from the General commissorship of Hungary at the 1900 exhibition invited me to ask you what are your personal impressions regarding the remarkable portrait of Leo XIII [4509] that you are exhibiting in Paris.^[1] 

So did I ask our painter Chartran,^[2] in 1891, his impressions, which he wrote in a letter which I later published.

[Page 2]

1. How did the idea to make a portrait of the Leo XIII come to you?

2. How did the sittings take place in the Vatican?

3. How do you personally conceive the manner in which to paint the great beautiful old man?

You have conceived your portrait in an original way, and I confess, I, who know the model sovereign well, that you could not have portrayed him more lively, nor more sincere. I would be very honoured to receive your impressions soon, in a letter either in Hungarian, or in French. I would publish them with satisfaction; and I believe they would greatly contribute to spread your beautiful work in the world.

With sympathy | Your devoted Boyer d’Agen 

[On the side of page 2]: Send me your portrait too and the permission to reproduce the portrait of Pope Leo XIII

CC

20/12/2005