RR Auction, Lot 650, ‘Voltaire: “Voltaire offers high praise to an architect: “”The King will use your rare talents for new masterpieces which will immortalize his century”””‘
Title:
Letter signed from Voltaire to Jean Rodolph Perronet, written in the hand of Wagnière from Ferney and dated 28 July 1774 [D19052]
Letter signed from Voltaire to Jean Rodolph Perronet, written in the hand of Wagnière from Ferney and dated 28 July 1774.
Detailed Summary:
Voltaire states that Perronet gave him a great desire to take the coach to see the Neuilly bridge, adding that he would leave immediately if his age and continual illness did not prevent him from doing so. He notes that it is sad to die without having seen the monuments which make one’s homeland illustrious and thanks Perronet for having had the goodness to have had the drawing of the bridge shown to him. Voltaire goes on to say that he does not doubt that the King will use Perronet’s rare talents for new masterpieces which will immortalise his century and his reign. He ends by saying that he hopes Perronet will include him amongst his large number of admirers.
There are remnants of a tab of paper in the upper right-hand corner of f.1r. The paper has been folded to create a left-hand margin on both the recto and verso sides. The MS has also been folded into four (since unfolded).