JONGKIND (Johan Barthold). Autograph letter signed, addresse - Lot 311

JONGKIND (Johan Barthold). Autograph letter signed, addressed to the coal merchant Rochette, his best friend, written at Mr Fesser's home in La Cote St-André on November 9, 1880. 8 pages. "It's been nearly 6 or 7 months since I wrote to you, and how astonished you must be not to see us arrive in Nevers. That's why I want to write to you again, and all the more so as Madame Fesser and I are thinking of spending another winter here, praying for the children, and fearing the winter in Paris. First of all, you know our lodgings at 3e rue de Chevreuse, and when the snow and bad weather fall in the streets, it's not very pleasant to have to go out every day for provisions and climb back up to the 3rd floor, while here we occupy ourselves with nothing but rest, correspondence and reading. I will first tell you that since your last kind letter Madame Fesser has been in Lyon and at the address you sent her. At Madame Simon's and that they were very happy to see each other and other acquaintances from Nevers also we learned of Mr. Simon's death at 82 in Bourges. So since my last letter I can tell you that fortunately my arm is better but I still have a stomach ache and great inflammation so for the moment I still have to keep my room. After the heat of July and August last year Madame Fesser and I went to see Mr Fesser's brother-in-law in Narbonne where he lives in a large farm and where we received the friendship of all [...] and when we were in the south of France, we visited Perpignan, Port Vendre, la nouvelle Cette, Nîmes, Arles - Marseille - Toulon, and then La Ciotat, to see Madame Gabrielle's sister and her children. This with regret that Madame Fesser and I - we did not have the happiness to see them, they had left for Constantine Africa as a teacher and appointed with a salary assured by the Government. You will please compliment Monsieur Gabrielle and tell him that we went expressly to see them, and that the circumstances do not hold here. That I will be very happy to come and visit him myself, as I still remember his kindness and friendship towards me. Since your last letter to me. I have thought of you and Madame Rochette many times. I do hope that her illness has not had any sequel and that she will be fully recovered and certainly not having the ambaras of the Café that she must be today much happier. Especially as she's not alone, still having the same household with Mad Matou, La Couterière and her other little acquaintances of true friendship and affection. As you have not written for a long time, please be so kind as to give us some answers, especially about Antonin, whether he is well, his good health and his occupations, and that he should know with common sense and knowing how to take care of himself that one can find the way to be happy alone. Now I'll tell you that Jules his wife and his 3 dear little children are all well, since we've been here they're growing up and starting to talk and are always close to me and grandma with that we're well housed so I've already given you the description of the wine harvest it's done here in pretty good condition save from diseased vines The ectoliter 55 francs you tell us please.If we have been happy enough in the Nivernais and if we have been able to harvest wine from the Mont à Pin. Dear friend Rochette, I will finish writing to you today and if you have the time, please pass on our compliments to all our good friends whom I hope to see again. You will also send my and Madame Fesser's compliments to Monsieur Bresson, to our [...] friend de la Fougère to his wife and father and mother... please don't forget mons. Huilier and if my partridge is still flying also to your [...] neighbor Mr. Le Cot, also tell when you give an answer if Mr. Roumier is still alive. In the meantime, I will be happy to see you again when I return to Paris. Please accept my best wishes, and Madame Fesser and I hope to hear of your good health from Madame Rochette and Antonin, and that you will not keep us waiting for long. I remember you with my friendship. Jongkind, chez mr Fesser à la côte St André (Isère) " Expert : Nicolas ASVISIO