Jacques-Émile BLANCHE (1861-1942). 4 L.A.S., [1893]-1897, to Pierre Louÿs; 13pages in-8, one envelope (3 letters on mourning paper). Interesting correspondence from the painter to his model and friend. Sunday [autumn 1893], about his portrait of Louÿs: "Decidedly, the hands look so bad in your portrait, that I'm going to try gloving them"; he asks him to bring gloves... - Dieppe October 2, 1894. He returns to Paris. "I was held up by a portrait that interested me very much and by a neighborhood I've already told you about"; he asks for a copy "for the Mysterious Lady. [...] I think it's one of those orchid flowers that eat raw flesh". He painted the young André Lebey "like a Madonna by Andrea del Sarto"... - February 6, 1895. He dined at A. Poniatowski's with Mallarmé, Régnier and Helleu. "We talk a lot, always, about Bilitis. Melle Marie de H. [Heredia] has written sublime verses, they say. Barrès has become popular, since Rochefort's return. Drumont's return was lackluster. Jaurès is announcing revolution within the next six months, and Félix Faure, far from being small, is big. This man has for him amiability, a lousy head, the desire to please everyone"... He evokes the performance of Le Chariot de terre cuite with "the inimitable Fénéon who played in it"... - Dieppe July 22, 1897. He recalls Dieppe in winter; his poor house is threatened by the cliff. He would like to receive Louÿs there; there would be "the astonishing spectacle of the Thaulow family and [...] the Douglas-Wilde phalanstery at Berneval. These gentlemen offer galettes to the little children of the commune, under the worried eyes of the gendarmerie"...