Letter from Voltaire to Denis Diderot, written from château de Ferney to Paris and dated 20 April 1773 [D18327]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV36745
Repository:
Shelfmark:
5-240 (VII, f.140), ‘Diderot, 20 avril 1773 (M. 8818)’
Title:
Letter from Voltaire to Denis Diderot, written from château de Ferney to Paris and dated 20 April 1773 [D18327]
Collection(s):
Related record(s):
No related manuscripts found.
Link to Archive Catalogue:
Link to Digital Resource:
OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
The Besterman Collection, Geneva, photocopy
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
J’ai été bien agréablement surpris, Monsieur, en recevant une Lettre signée Diderot lorsque je revenais d’un bord du Styx à l’autre.
Incipit Modernised:
J’ai été bien agréablement surpris, Monsieur, en recevant une Lettre signée Diderot lorsque je revenais d’un bord du Styx à l’autre.
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
Partly
Brief Summary:
Letter from Voltaire to Denis Diderot, written from château de Ferney to Paris and dated 20 April 1773.
Detailed Summary:
The writer expresses profound gratitude and delight at receiving a letter from Diderot, likening it to the joy of a wounded soldier hearing from a celebrated general. Though his health is declining and death draws near, he remains in good spirits and reflects on life’s transience. He praises the artistic talents of several figures, especially La Fontaine, and expresses deep respect for the recipient, noting that illness limits his ability to engage more fully.
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Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
1 f.
Format:
Dimensions:
Hands:
2
Watermark:
Countermark:
Binding:
The manuscript is bound with other documents in contemporary red morocco.
Additional Comments:
Materiality Keywords:
Decorations:
Additions:
The manuscript carries a few autograph additions, while the letter’s envelope is endorsed with ‘à Monsieur Monsieur Diderot etca à Paris’.
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Inclusions:
History
Date:
20 April 1773
Ownership:
After Voltaire’s death, the MS passed into the ownership of Catherine II and remained in the imperial and then national collection thereafter.
Origin (transcript):
Origin:
Provenance:
This MS was probably taken to St Petersburg by Wagnière in the summer of 1779 along with the rest of Voltaire’s library.
Bibliography
Bibliography:
Fernand Caussy, Inventaire des manuscrits de la bibliothèque de Voltaire conservée à la bibliothèque impériale publique de Saint-Pétersbourg (Geneva, Slatkine reprints, 1970)
OCV Reference:
vol.123, p.394–395
OCV Manuscript Reference:
vol.123, ‘MS2’, p.395
Record created by:
Record created on: