voltaire (1694-1778). - Lot 249

Lot 249
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Estimation :
4000 - 5000 EUR
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Result : 4 960EUR
voltaire (1694-1778). - Lot 249
voltaire (1694-1778). L.A.S. "Voltaire", Fontainebleau October 12, 1745, to cardinal Domenico PASSIONEI; 4 pages in-4. Beautiful flattering letter where Voltaire courts a close friend of Pope Benedict XIV, and glorifies the Italian language. [Domenico PASSIONEI (1682-1761) was librarian of the Vatican. On May 30, 1745, Voltaire informs the Marquis d'Argenson of his wish "to have some mark of the papal benevolence which could make [him] honor in this world and in the other". To this end, on August 17, he sends two letters to Benedict XIV, accompanying one of them with his tragedy Mahomet. On the same day, he sent a letter to various cardinals, including Cardinal Passionei (who replied on September 15), in which he presented himself as the official poet of the "Most Christian King. He was a fierce opponent of the Jesuits] He received his letter of September 15: "to the purity and to the singular elegance of the style I believed it of the best writers of France, and to the feelings which reign there I recognized Monseigneur le cardinal Passionei. A spirit such as yours, Monseigneur, is of all countries. And he must be eloquent in all languages. I use the one that your eminence speaks so well to thank him for his kindness. It redoubles the sorrow I have had for a long time for not having seen a city such as Rome, the home of the fine arts and yours. It seems to me that all the French who cultivate letters should make this trip, as the Greeks went to the Egyptians, their ancient masters. He will be flattered to receive the book of the Marquis Orsi: "It will strengthen the extreme taste and the little knowledge that I can have of the Italian language, this elder daughter of the Latin language, worthy of her mother, and which served all those of Europe. I have long been aware of the misunderstandings of Father Bouhours, and the unjust severity of M. Despreaux [Boileau] with regard to Ariosto and Tasso. Both knew only superficially what they were criticizing. Despreaux felt too much the small defects of Tasso, and not enough his great merits. I see with extreme pleasure that your Eminence, in the midst of his great occupations, still cultivates fine letters, seeing, it seems to me, as the Romans of the fine centuries were made, except that they did not have such human and peaceful feelings as your Eminence. Please my lord, preserve for me the kindnesses which still animate in me the taste for the arts. It is strengthened by example, and the example given by your Eminence is one of the greatest encouragements that letters can receive. The peaceful republic of thinking people is spread throughout the world. They are all brothers, you are at their head: and although more than three hundred leagues from you my lord my mind is considered as one of the subjects of yours "... Correspondence (Bibl. de la Pléiade), vol. II, no. 2003. Provenance: former Tronc- Jeanson collection (Christie's sale, Paris, November 6, 2013, no. 145).
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