Tuesday 3 November 2009

Toulouse-Lautrec's Fox Terrier...

I'm sure most of you are familiar with Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's Post Impressionist images of the people in Paris around the fin de siecle. Did you know that he also painted and sketched dogs too?

I was intrigued to discover a letter that was recently up for auction in which Lautrec mentions buying a fox terrier.

The letter reads:

"I have just bought a Fox Terrier at the London pound. At the end of five days, the dogs are either killed or sold. The Queen wants it that way.

So for ten shillings I've got a
dog worth at least 5 Louis [100 Francs]. It would be very nice if you could send the errand boy to fetch it at the Gard du Nord
tomorrow, Wednesday, at half past 5. Give it a drink, feed it and so on, and send it on again from the Gare d'Orleans to the following address: M. Victor, Cartage Contractor at the Langon Railway Station, Langon, Gironde, COD. In fact, I don't need to tell you who he is. Thadee will be responsible for enlivening the stay of this poor animal, who is named Judy, after Punch's wife. Inform Victor with a short telegram at Verdelais so that he will not fail to be there. I think I’ll be back about the 15th. I’m eating perfectly good grill[ed meat] and shall work a little, from a sense of duty. Salaam-aleikums to Thadee. Greetings to the friends and you".

The letter dates from 5th June 1894 and is written by Lautrec while staying at Morrell’s Private Hotel in London to his friend, Alfred Natanson.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find out any further information about Judy the Fox Terrier. I wonder what became of her...

4 comments:

Daniella said...

How fascinating! I love his art - didn't he paint a lot of Parisian whorehouses? I hope Judy didn't end up in one of those..LOL. Wonder if she was smooth or wiry.

Ax and Dani

Unknown said...

No I didn't know that he painted dogs! The bottom pic is my favorite :) Great post x

Asta said...

Wow
That is truly fascinating..Lucky Judy to have been noticed by Lautrec..what a dreadful queen
I hope she had a good life
smoochie kisses,ASTA and Mommi

Eric said...

Oooh didn't know that.He paid quite a lot for Judy so paws crossed she had a good life with him.

Wiry wags Eric xxxx