Émile-Antoine BOURDELLE. 4 L.A.S., Paris, 1921-1924, to his "dear Master" Anatole France. Anatole France; 5 pages in-4 and one in-12 on the back of a postcard depicting the bust of A France. A countertype photograph of Bourdelle with Anatole France is attached. January 9, 1921. He sends his greetings "with the monogram of Anatole France. I composed it this morning as a precaution at an hour before dawn, so that the sweet goddess would blush a little this winter's day in her shame at seeing such imperfect work. I've hung the Sage's little lamp from L'F's gallows [...] The little flame of the lamp is the one we constantly hold alight before the image of those whom our spirit venerates. If the drawing that ignites it was hasty, the admiration for you that gave birth to it was constant. Allow me, Master, and also Madame France, to have tried to eternalize the fragility of the lamp by making strong the clay in which I kneaded all my affection for you"... - 6/3/21. Lady Cunard leaves for London "where she is busy exhibiting my work" and will see the Master on his return to Paris. He works too hard: "I am required to send to the Salon the model of a large work I must finish this very evening". He looks forward to seeing France in Versailles on Sunday. - April 16, 1924 (postcard of his bust of A. France): he is unwell and unable to visit her (for her 80th birthday) "but it is a feast for me and for my people to follow the worldwide human stream that blooms with glory your so simple threshold. Having learned the angles of wisdom and the dimensions of beauty, in attempting to construct your veiled and tender mask I have heard resounding in its lines the high-pitched cry of your spirit beneath the smile of contours. At your threshold of sensibility forbidden by wisdom, allow me to come last and place in the shadow of your work the sculptor's forged tools a little pure stone a little soft clay and the compass that a friendly heart strove to guide". - S.d. on Librairie Mornay letterhead, he asks France to "receive and listen to Monsieur Mornay Libraire Éditeur". Attached is a photograph (countertype) of Bourdelle with Anatole France.