Mesmerised (29 page)

Asnières
, July 31, 1883

Madame,

I beg you to excuse me if in what follows I revive your grief over the extraordinary and greatly mourned Monsieur Manet.

You know without doubt that I posed for a great many of his paintings, notably for Olympia, his masterpiece. M Manet took a lot of interest in me and often said that if he sold his paintings he would reserve some reward for me. I was so young then and careless … I left for America.

When I returned, M Manet, having sold a great number of his works to M Faure, told me that he was going to give me something. I refused, enthusiastically thanking him, adding that when I could no longer pose I would remind him of his promise.

That time has come sooner than I thought; the last time that I saw M Manet he promised to help me get a job in a theatre as an usher, adding that he would give me money to secure it … You know the rest, and what a rapid sickness ravished your loved one.

Certainly I had decided never to bother you and remind you of that promise, but misfortune has befallen me: I can no longer model, I have to all alone take care of my old mother, who is now utterly incapable of work, and on top of all this I had an accident and injured my right hand (a broken finger) and will not be able to do work of any kind for several months.

It is this desperate situation, Madame, which prompts me to remind you of M Manet’s kind promise. M Leenhoff and M Gustave Manet can tell you that M Manet certainly intended to come to my aid. If in my misfortune, and in remembrance of him, you will be so kind as to interest yourself in my destiny and can do something for me, please accept, Madame, my deepest gratitude.

I am respectfully yours, Victorine Meurent,

7, Boulevard de la Seine,
             

Asnières

Seine

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