Painter and Patron: Collaboration of Mary Cassatt and Louisine Havemeyer

Author(s): Alicia Faxon

Source: Woman's Art Journal , Autumn, 1982 - Winter, 1983, Vol. 3, No. 2 (Autumn,
1982 - Winter, 1983), pp. 15-20
Published by: Woman's Art Inc.

Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1358029

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 Painter and Patron: Collaboration of
Mary Cassatt and Louisine Havemeyer

ALICIA FAXON

Havemeyer
It is due to the efforts of Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) (Fig. 1) immediately started negotiations with Dur
and Louisine Havemeyer (1855-1929) (Fig. 2) that many Ruel to secure another Courbet, but when La Branche de
major works of European art are now in museums in the Cerisier Anglais, a nude half-length, was shown to him in
United States. The beginning of their association was first 1890, he said to his wife, "Surely you are not going to buy
related by Louisine Havemeyer in her privately printed that,"4 as they had agreed not to purchase nudes.
memoirs, Sixteen to Sixty: Memoirs of a Collector. IShe first Nevertheless, the painting eventually ended up in their
met Mary Cassatt when she was a 16-year-old pensionnaire collection, together with four other Courbet nudes, La
at Madame Del Sartre's in Paris. Cassatt showed the young Femme a la Vague, La Source, La Jeune Baigneuse and La
Louisine Waldron Elder a pastel by Degas, Repetition de Femme au Perroquet; the latter was sent immediately to the
Ballet, in a color shop and urged her to buy it. Louisine Metropolitan Museum of Art.
complied, using her entire allowance on her first art
In 1901 Mary Cassatt joined Mr. and Mrs. Havemeyer
purchase. This was the auspicious start of a collection which
and Mrs. Havemeyer's sister, Mrs. Samuel T. Peters, on a
eventually included 44 Courbets, 28 Monets, 23 Manets, 63
collecting trip to Italy, Sicily and Spain. Louisine described
oils, drawings and pastels and 71 sculptures by Degas, and
the immensely successful cooperative venture:
20 works by Cassatt, as well as major paintings by
Rembrandt, Veronese, Goya and El Greco. As the French say, Miss Cassatt had the "flair" of an old
hunter, and her experience had made her as patient as
Although Louisine first heard of Courbet from Cassatt at Job and as wise as Solomon in art matters; Mr.
Madame Del Sartre's, 2 it was not until 10 years later, in Havemeyer had the true energy of a collector, while I-
1881, that she accompanied Cassatt to Courbet's exhibition well, I had the time of my life.5
in the foyer of the Theatre de la Gaiete. She particularly
admired Courbet's La Branche de Cerisier Anglais, a work Sailing on the Augusta Victoria on January 30, 1901, they
she later bought for the Havemeyer Collection. Louisine said met Cassatt in Genoa. It was on this trip that the
of the experience: Havemeyers bought Veronese's Portrait of his Wife, a
marble Madonna and the Infant Christ by Mino da Fiesole,
As usual, I owe it to Miss Cassatt that I was able to see
and discovered and bought several Goyas and El Grecos in
the Courbets. She took me there, explained Courbet to
me, spoke of the great painter in her flowing, generous
Spain, including the latter artist's Cardinal Guevara and
way, called my attention to his marvelous execution, to View of Toledo.
his color, above all to his realism, to that poignant, One of the French dealer-collectors with whom Cassatt
palpitating medium of truth through which he sought
did business was Theodore Duret (1838-1927). Duret was
expression.3
also an art critic, writer, and long-time friend of Manet and
It was not until after Louisine married Henry Osborne the Impressionists, despite his 1867 book, Les Peintres
Havemeyer in 1883 that she was able to buy the Courbets she Francais, in which he criticized Manet. A series of
wanted (although her husband sometimes opposed her unpublished letters (at the Fondation Custodia, Collection F
choices). Henry Osborne Havemeyer (1847-1907) was a Lugt, Institut Neerlandais, Paris) to Duret from Cassatt and
millionaire sugar refiner who brought much of the spirit of Havemeyer reveals their close cooperation. Duret was the
commercial competition to art collecting. However, he agent in finding major works by Courbet, Daumier, Gu
admired his wife's friend Miss Cassatt and allowed himself and other French artists for the Havemeyer Collection. The
to be led, if not always governed, by herjudgment in mattersfollowing six letters from Cassatt to Duret are undated,
of art. He saw a Courbet now owned by the Louvre in the although the contents of four suggest 1904, 1905, 1907, 191
Secretan sale of 1889, but it was already sold. Mr. with two sometime during World War I.6 In these letters

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16 Woman's Art Journal

Cassatt shows herself to be an astute advisor to Louisine the Assumption [El Greco's Assumption of the Virgin of
Havemeyer; she also reveals a strong sense of a which the Metropolitan Museum did not buy as it had rec
responsibility to stock public and private collections in the purchased an El Greco Nativity and which was purchased
United States with major European art works. the Art Institute of Chicago] is one of the most beautiful pic
in the Museum and so interesting as a transitional work. I
Mesnil-Beufresne that now since Mr. Pierpont Morgan is Director of the
October 1st [1904] Fresneaux-Montchevreuil Metropolitan Museum of New York that some really beautiful
Mesnil-Theribus (Oise) paintings will be acquired. It is not the money that is lacking
Dear Sir, because the Museum has an income of $250,000 and Mr. Morgan
Thank you very much for giving information to Mlle. has several millions, if he were in a spending mood.
Gassiter on the question of the exhibitions held by the so-called Accept, dear sir, I beg you, the expression of my very cordial
"impressionists," she is to speak about the subject in America. sentiments,
It's a good thing she is conversant with it, people have said so Mary Cassatt
many foolish things, it should be made clear.
Monday [1916] Mesnil-Beaufresne
I have learned that the Salon d'Automne will have also an
Mesnil-Theribus (Oise)
exhibition of Manet and of Ingres for the first of the next year.
Dear Sirs,
I hope that you have passed a good summer and are in goodMrs. Havemeyer has just written me that she has decided to
health. take The Knife Grinders. 7She had not received my letter when
Receive, I beg of you, the profession of my best wishes, she wrote me to the contrary. This does not prevent her from
Mary Cassatt taking an interest in the study of pictures of women. I find that a
very fine thing. She speaks to me about La Source 8but there we
Mesnil-Beaufresne can do nothing.
Thurs [1905] Fresneaux-Montchevreuil
We are in the battle now, it depends on the Russians if we will
Mesnil-Theribus (Oise)
be out of it this year. I have a letter from Mrs. Archer which
Dear Sir,
gives me pleasure. I hope you are well.
I received the photograph today, it is very well executed and
I thank you for sending it to me. I saw the picture at the With great friendship to you,
exhibition. It seemed to me that the exhibition of the works of Mary Cassatt
Manet looked very well. I was already acquainted with Mesnil-Beaufresne
25 August? [1916]
everything I saw there. The Turkish Bath by Ingres I saw for the
Mesnil-Theribus (Oise)
first time-it is extraordinarily well realized and completely in Dear Sir,
the style of 19th century painting.
I have already written to Mrs. Havemeyer about the study of
Is it possible that the public of today needs to be converted to the Young Woman by the Seine, giving the price as well as the
Manet? and even to Cezanne and other painters of 1874? I price offered by Kelekian and refused for the Bonheurs. What I
thought that had happened long since, even from the point of would like is for you to send her the photograph. I do not wish to
view of the purists. I received a letter from Mr. Pennell recently. follow in Kelekian's footsteps but he is no longer in the market
He laments the "fiasco" of the Whistler exhibition at the Beaux- for this picture. In Mrs. H.'s place I would prefer this study to
Arts which he said was very harmful to Whistler, at this time. the Veronese which is not an attractive picture. She likes the last
Accept, I beg you, the expression of my best affection, Rubens that she bought better than a portait of August
Mary Cassatt [Shaucas?].
I sent your letter about the Ingres which you own to my New The Russians seem to be coming to a halt and here also things
York friends, but I believe their minds are made up about this, are at a standstill. Until the day . . .
they want nothing of Ingres but a large portrait of a woman and My friendly greetings,
since that is not to be found, content themselves with drawings- Mary Cassatt
The following letter is not in Cassatt's hand and was Thursday [1916] Mesnil-Beaufresne
probably written by her maid, Mathilde. Mesnil-Theribus
Dear Sir,
November 30 [1907] Beaufresne by No, I do not at all agree with you. I think the photograph
Fresneaux-Montchevreuil, Oise gives the impression of a very fine thing, this was also the
Dear Sir, opinion of Renoir to whom I showed it at Grasse.
In response to your letter, I do not want to sell my still life by
Cezanne but I know that the Pissarros have a painting of flowers
Mrs. Havemeyer is perfectly capable of forming an opinion
by him that they will be willing to sell if they find a bidder. of the painting by that, and a color photograph would only be a
Madame Pissarro told me that she intended to have a sale in the caricature. Therefore send her the photograph with the last
spring of everything her husband left, but I know that if, whileprice without delay. We are obviously in the last period of the
waiting, she should get the asking price, she will accept. She also war but a fatigue has kept them inactive from Rumania to
Serifontaine near Gisors for the last 15 months.
has several landscapes by Cezanne that I am not acquainted
with. The Russians are halted for the moment. I had hoped for the
I see that the Cezannes have had a great success at the Saloncapture of Lemberg, let's hope it is to discuss getting underway
d'Automne-it was about time- again. Oh, may it be over soon!
Did you see the portrait of the Cardinal when it was in Paris? Best wishes,
[This was the portrait of Cardinal Guevara by El Greco which Mary Cassatt
the Havemeyers saw with Cassatt on their trip to Spain in The weather is awful. If it continues I will return to Paris
1901
and which she urged them to buy. They finally obtainedbefore the end of September. I am happy that Kelekian bought
it after
the sketch. That proved that he is cured of Matisse.
much negotiation and eventually donated it to the Metropolitan
Museum of Art.] It is the finest El Greco that has left Spain. But 0

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 Woman's Art Journal 17

The following nine letters from Louisine Havemeyer to I11 _:: - .i.
Theodore Duret also published here for the first time were
written from 1916 to 1924, and show that Mrs. Havemeyer'sg _ .
collecting passion remained intense even after her ; -
husband's death in 1907. The letters reveal her particular i
enthusiasms, acute business sense, and perseverance. They . .
also document that she was personally concerned and
involved in the collection and was able and willing to pursue | "
her interests, not as a dilettante, but as an astute and ': .
determined lover of art and practical negotiator. She had '::
learned from Cassatt, deferred to Cassatt's judgment, and
took her advice, but she was very much her own person and
had strong opinions on art and life. /'-
One East Sixty-Sixth Street : :
January 14, 1916 ' .
Dear Sir, '" :.
I am sending you in an envelope a money-order f
thousand francs for La Pointe de Vallieres of Courbe
landscape-or seascape-has always pleased me as a s
and I am sure that you would recommend at present only an
important work of the Master. Ship it, please, by American
Express.
What is important for my
ready to pay a good price fo
it for a price so exagerate
do you believe that they wi
and right away? You, who know well the circumstances, will be. '' ..j. . :
able to advise me in the matter if you believe the time to be
opportune. I will arrange to be ready to act on a cable or a letter
so as not to let the business drag on.
I am delighted that Miss Cassatt is feeling so well, besides I
recently had a good letter from her written at Grasse.
FIG. 1. Mary Cassatt in Reboux hat, Grasse, 1914. Photograph
With all my best wishes for the New Year, please
Courtesy accept
Boston Public the C B
Library P L
Print .
Department.
expression of my cordial affection,
L. W. Havemeyer

One East Sixty-Sixth Street . . S

Dear Mr. Duret, March 1, 1916 ?
I don't believe you are aware of the "ennuis and chagrins" you
give me by not sending pictures as I request, by The American
Express. They attend toformalities. You sent it-in spite of my ^ ^.
request-by Wells Fargo and consequently I must pay duty on it, .-
and you did not send the certificate of originality with it. Kindly
send it at once so I can get my picture. Go to Wells Fargo and . '* . ...
make them explain to you and send all the formalities at once. ? : : '.J '
My picture must remain at the Customs until you send it. '
I am writing in haste and hope you too will act promptly. I .-
am, with kind regards,
Sincerely yours, t
L. W. Havemeyer

One East Sixty-Sixth Street

M. Theodore Duret April 15, 1916. ., a 3^
Dear Sir,
Finally I have th
Pottier didn't help at all. I
has sold the painting and that the painting is the work of the - '_
painter Gustave Courbet. This, in case another occasion arises---
I admire the Pointe de Vallikres. It is beautiful, the sky, the sea / ? , ."' t
and the cape are as you said. It is a subject different from those I ^ i
already have. Thank you very much. There are few of them left, ^ .
I believe, and that is why I am disposed to pay up to 150,000
francs for La Source if sometimes these ladies decide to give it : '
1. Courtesy
up. It is better that you know about it, then, if the occasion arises, FIG. 2. Mary Cassatt, Louisine Havemeyer, paste
you will know what to expect. It seems to me that La Source Shelburne Museum, Vermont.

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18 Woman's Art Journal

should be in my collection but not at an exaggerated price.

our consul that you are the seller of the pictures and that they are
I am happy that Miss Cassatt is at Grasse and I hope original
you Courbets.
do Please send me a certificate as soon as
possible,soon.
not find Paris too sad at present. Let us hope it will finish otherwise I will have to pay the fines. Go to American
Express
We are not too happy here either. I will hurry to put this for in
letter all the information and they will give you a printed
the mail so that you will know that the picture has comeform and you must follow the instructions, then go to the consul
to me.
to have them signed. Make one for the Courbets; and one for the
Accept, I beg you, the expression of my best wishes, Guys separately. You should have done this before (for both the
L. W. Havemeyer boxes sent) because it has always been necessary to have a
certificate that you are the seller of the paintings and that they
One East Sixty-Sixth Street are originals.
New York August 2, 1916
Dear Sir, I am writing as fast as possible to have your letter sooner.
I have just cabled that I will take The Knife Grinders I amofastonished that the shipper did not tell you to do this.
Courbet. Without doubt, Miss Cassatt was mistaken about the
Accept the expression of my best wishes.
price and I report to you that the picture is beautiful and should
L. W. Havemeyer
be in my collection. It is of a period of the painter of which I have
few examples. But that is not important, I am more interested One East Sixty-Sixth Street
with the artistic side of the master and I hope to receive it soon. I January 4, 1922
am sure that it is beautiful. I beg you with all my M. heart to Duret
Theodore
observe all the recommendations in the letter that IDear send you
Sir,
with this envelope-without a certificate attesting to the At last I have your last letter and remit at once a money
originality of the picture and signed by you before the American order for 1,630 francs, the rest of what I owe you for all th
consul, I cannot get the painting to pass through our customs- transactions. The Guys have arrived, but not your "affidavi
therefore go, please, to 11 rue Scribe, ask for the information and before the consul-I was waiting for it by La Touraine which
expedite the picture by American Express Company. Don't pay arrived today but without a letter from you again! I hope t
attention to what Pottier tells you. I advise you not to go there at receive it by the next steamer. My Guys that I have already ar
all. I hope, dear sir, that this letter-and I must give the piece to not of the first quality, that doesn't mean everything-Little b
get to the city tomorrow-will help you in the shipment, and I little I hope to have a beautiful little collection as I admire him a
will write you as soon as I receive The Knife Grinders. I would an artist.
like very much to talk with you to hear your political views at my
If by chance you ship me anything, go by American Express.
home, especially to know what you think of the future in Europe.
They are by far the best-more capable and less expensive. They
But I must consign this letter to the mail right away so it will go
on the Rochambeau. have always done well for me.
I have had a letter from Miss Cassatt. She is afraid of not
Please accept my best wishes,
being able to go to France this winter. Her eyes have not greatly
L. W. Havemeyer improved and she does not see better. What sadness for her! I am
so sorry for her and without Mathilde I would be very unhappy
One East Sixty-Sixth Street about her existence.
October 20, 1916
Dear Sir, I wonder if the great "convention" here has accomplished
Without wanting to, I have made you wait for an answer to what it hoped to accomplish, and if the Nations, that is to say the
your kind letter. I left for Chicago and only on my return was Lloyd
I Georges and the Briands can find a way to deliver us from
able to respond to it. Although the photograph of the Young our difficulties? Let us hope so, as it is time to make progress in
finding peace.
Woman on the bank of the water is beguiling, as a picture, I refuse
it as it is more of a sketch and not a study for the large painting Will you stay at Paris or will you return again to Saintes?
and because the price is too high. I understand it is 70,000 You discourage me on the subject of Courbet and his flowers,
francs. I would prefer to wait for some more important thingswhat if a pity for my collection that I lost La Femme Cueillait des
it is possible to find them- fleurs. Who knows! Maybe I will have it one day or another.
Accept, dear sir, all my best compliments and wishes for the
The Knife Grinders has finally arrived! A beautiful painting
which makes one think of The Stonebreakers which I saw two
new year and my best wishes,
years ago at Munich. Many thanks for finding it for me. I have L. W. Havemeyer
nothing of this period and I am happy to put it with the other One East Sixty-Sixth Street
examples of Courbet and, and now!! how about La Source or January 10, 1922
something else? I know that you would not advise me to give To so Mr. Duret
much for the study of the Young Woman. It seems to me I should Dear Sir,
be content for the present but that's life-to seek. I would give so
I am sending you under separate envelope the sum that yo
much to have you able to see my collection. The portrait by
have paid to M. LeVeil for a Guys, 2493 francs which will com
Ingres has given me for a long time more and more pleasure like
by express soon. Thank you a thousand times for all the effor
so many other canvases that I owe to your energy. I hope that my
that you have made to obtain it for me. I know well that it
letter finds you as well as Miss Cassatt. Please accept the difficult to do at present. As I write, I lift my eyes and I see
expression of my best wishes, Femme en noir et bleu. What style! But of all that I have bough
L. W. Havemeyer wish most you could see the Courbets in my gallery. La Hebelar
(the woman) is superb. I come so often to the gallery to see it th
One East Sixty-Sixth Street I promise you I lose a great deal of time. I would be very gratef
December 20, 1921 it you had not given it up! No certificate from the consul again
Dear Sir, had to pay the tax to the customs. They have promised to retur
It is not possible to retrieve the Courbets from the customs it when we furnish the certificate, therefore I hope to receive
because you have omitted to send the certificate signed before soon. "Chenne" will have to talk to you about what the America

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 Woman's Art Journal 19

Express can do, I am sure-but in any case, send it to me for is

"Property the
theft," would seem to be at variance with those
4 Courbets-as soon as it is possible for you. of the wife and widow of a millionaire. What is unusual too is
All my wishes, dear sir, for the new year. I shall that Havemeyer
be going to was particularly fond of Courbet's canvases
New Orleans in the month of April to liberate the voteshowing
fromworkers,
all such as The Stonebreakers and The Knife
the impediments that they (the men) impose on it. It Grinders. She also purchased a number of Courbet's most
is necessary
to pass a "bill" in the legislature. If you will permit me, Inudes,
sensual will also unconventional for the wife of a
send you an account of what happens there. I assure you, with all
conservative businessman and mother of three. In part, this
my interests, I lead quite a life! Very stressful. interest may have stemmed from the fact that Cassatt had
I have sent off the account and I will wait with impatience to to Courbet's nudes, but this does not explain
introduced her
see Les Deux Femmes.
totally the purchase of five nudes. Havemeyer admired
Please accept the expression of my gratitude and all myCourbet's skill as a painter and perhaps responded to his
appreciative wishes, robust sensualism. One must conclude that Havemeyer was
L. W. Havemeyer not completely a member of her class and rebelled against
some of their Victorian attitudes toward nudity, the working
One East Sixty-Sixth Street
classes, and the role of women.
Dear Sir, New York June 1, 1924
As always I lean on your advice and Although
encouragement to began as a disciple of
Louisine Havemeyer
continue to buy pictures. Modern art is worse,
Mary American
Cassatt, her art
letters indicate that she developed a fine
dominates everything here, and I find myself
eye for alone
art. It was in the
Havemeyer who persuaded Cassatt to
appreciation of any art whatever. show Lady at the Tea Table (1883-5), a portrait of a family
I am very curious to see the painting. friend,
As you suggested
at the it Laffitte
exhibition on rue to in 1914. The family
me, I am sure it is beautiful enoughhad
tonottake a portrait,
liked the place Cassatt
in mysaid, and she had put in in
collection. I suppose it is painted in oil, athough you
closet. "Well, I caredid not
for it, and say
so will others," Havemeyer
that, nor the size. It is enough for me that you have chosen it for
wrote, and insisted that it should be shown. 9 Her judgment
me. I will find the book on H. Daumier and look at the
illustrations as you suggested I do. I think of Daumier always proved
as correct. Both the Luxembourg and the Petit Palais
a "caricaturist" and of his drawings of judges, lawyers, etc.reportedly wanted the painting, but Cassatt gave it to the
Metropolitan Museum, where it is today.
I am sending you under separate envelope the money-order
and please ship it to me as you did for the last picture, but put on Both women were active in the fight for women's
the box To C. A. Richards. He is our agent here and if the boxsuffrage.
is In 1914 Cassatt wrote Havemeyer: "You know how
addressed to him, he will deliver it at once. Take care, please, of
I feel about the, to me, question of the day, and if such an
all the formalities. As soon as it arrives, I will write you.
exhibition is to take place I wish it to be for the cause of
Woman Suffrage." 0 Havemeyer arranged an exhibition of
It is difficult for me to imagine you in another apartment, but
I hope it pleases you and that you are completely installed. paintings
Do by Cassatt and Degas in Spring 1915, for the
you have your "Guys" again in the dining room? and the other benefit of women's suffrage and gave a speech for votes for
pictures in the same rooms as at 4 Rue Vignon? women at the opening. In 1913, Havemeyer had helped
I suppose that up to the present you have not found for me found
a the Congressional Union for Women's Suffrage which
real Courbet urchin like the one in his Studio and The Charity of
later became the National Women's Party, and made many
the Beggar. Maybe one day you will find me one. speeches for the cause. In 1919 she joined a group of
My portrait (the Courbet) pleases me greatly. Except thesuffragettes burning President Wilson in effigy because of
eyes-they are a bit disturbing. It is a very fine canvas. I call his
it opposition to the bill. They spent the night in jail and
Mme. X and say it was painted in '58-is that right? I am going later toured the country making speeches from a "Prison
to have the background fixed. Courbet was wrong to paint
Special" railroad car.
always with that cobalt. In all the paintings one finds
craquelure because of this use of the palette. However, he is the In 1923 an unfortunate break occurred in the
great master and it is necessary to take him as he is, don't you
relationship between Cassatt and Havemeyer. Mathil
think?
Cassatt's maid and companion, had found old dry-po
It is very cold here and I am remaining here in the city still
plates in a closet and Cassatt, her eyes failing, believed th
where I hope to see the Daumier before going to Connecticut. to be unprinted. She had some sets printed by Delatre
Accept all my thanks and my very affectionate wishes, sent one set to Havemeyer to show to William Ivins, Cur
Louisine Havemeyer of Prints at the Metropolitan Museum, to whom Cas
wanted to sell a set for $2,000. Examining the prints, Ivi
Two additional letters to Duret, also written in 1924, found they had come from worn plates and that there w
complete the group. The first goes over familiar territory
earlier impressions of these plates in the Museum
and the second, concerning the purchase of two Daumiers, is collection. Cassatt refused to believe this was so and in a
incomplete. These letters continue to reveal Havemeyer's letter to Delitre claimed that it was all a matter of money
enduring, even paramount interest in Courbet. Thiswith is Mr. Ivins who was incorrect in saying the plates were
perhaps natural, as Duret had sold her several Courbets. Butold, and had wrongfully accused Mathilde of misleading
her passion for the artist is also attested to in her memoirs,
Cassatt. 1 Cassatt blamed Havemeyer for corroborating
where she describes her introduction by Cassatt to his work, Ivins's evaluation and broke off relations with her longtime
details her purchases of his paintings from various dealers, friend.
and devotes an entire chapter to appreciation of Courbet as a
painter. Certainly the political and economic views of The results of the long and fruitful collaboration between
Courbet, Socialist and follower of Proudhon, who said Cassatt and Havemeyer did not end, however. After

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20 Woman's Art Journal

Cassatt's death on June 14, 1926, at the Chateau de rearranging the sequence of the letters where internal evidence points to
an earlier or later dating, as the letters themselves are undated by
Beaufresne, Havemeyer helped to organize a retrospective Cassatt. Thus Letter #3 (1971-A. 541) referring to the 1905 Salon d'
of Cassatt's work at the Pennsylvania Museum, loaned some Automne exhibition of the works of Manet and Ingres dates the letter as
of her paintings to the exhibition, and wrote a memoir of the October 1904; Letter #4 (1971-A. 542) refers to the current Salon d'
artist for the Pennsylvania Museum Bulletin.12 The Automne's 1905 exhibition of Manet's work; Letter #6 (1971-A. 544)
Havemeyer Collection continued to grow until Louisine's referring to the Salon d' Automne which showed works by Cezanne must
be dated at 1907; Letter #2 (1971-A. 540) is concurrent with a
death on January 6, 1929. Before she died, she left the Havemeyer letter of 1916 and Letters #1 and #5 (1971-A. 539 and
Metropolitan Museum 142 works of art and directed her son 1971-A. 543) refer to dates in the World War I period. The Havemeyer
Horace, who was the executor of the estate, to give the letters are in the same collection. The translations are mine. I thank
Museum such works as he chose which were not mentioned James and Carolyn Newman, however, for their assistance in
translating problem areas in the Cassatt letters and Simmons College
already in her will. The final bequest from the Havemeyer
for the Simmons College Research Grant for research in Paris in 1981.
Collection was increased by her children to include 1972
7. Les Remouleurs or The Knife Grinders (1848-50) by Courbet was
items, many of these personally marked by Mrs. Havemeyer purchased by Mrs. Havemeyer from Duret in August of 1916. She
as being of exceptional quality. 13 describes in her memoir how she had wanted to buy his Les Casseurs de
Pierres (The Stonebreakers) but it was already in the State Picture
Other museums in the United States were also enriched by Gallery, Dresden and so purchased The Knife Grinders of the same
the Cassatt/Havemeyer collaboration. When the period. Her description of this work is very perceptive: "It is called "Les
Metropolitan Museum decided not to purchase the El Greco Remouleurs," and represents two men in worn garments and heavy
shoes grinding knives; one turns the wheel and the other holds the blade
Assumption of the Virgin which Cassatt and the Havemeyers
firmly upon the stone. It has the same touch but it has not the wonderful
found in Spain in 1901, the Art Institute of Chicago added it
light and shade of 'Les Casseurs,' but is is a strong painting and recalls
to their collection. Her daughter Electra Havemeyer Webb's the former in its rich color" (Havemeyer, Sixteen to Sixty, 193-94). The
bequest to the Shelburne Museum, Vermont, has paintings
Knife Grinders was sold in the 1930 auction of the Havemeyer Collection
from Louisine's collection, and Courbet's Knife Grinders is and is now in the collection of the Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio. I am
indebted to Linda Nochlin for information on the present location of this
in the Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio. The aim of Cassatt'swork.
and Havemeyer's mutual venture into collecting was 8.
toMrs. Havemeyer bought Courbet's La Source- Vue de dos from Durand-
enrich the United States with works of European art of theRuel in 1916. She also owned La Femme au Perroquet (purchased for the
highest quality. No one visiting the Metropolitan Museum or
Metropolitan Museum of Art), La Femme d la Vague of 1868, La
the Webb apartment at the Shelburne Museum could doubt Branche de Cerisier Anglais purchased in 1890, and La Jeune Baigneuse
of 1866, all nude studies by Courbet.
the triumph of this collaboration between two committed
9. Louisine W. Havemeyer, "Mary Cassatt," The Pennsylvania Museum
women, the painter and the patron. Together they provided
Bulletin (May 1927), 382.
the perception, pursuit and means to secure great works of
10. Letter from Mary Cassatt addressed to Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, May 30,
art for a country which Cassatt left as a young woman1914. Transcript of the original letter is on deposit at the National
because there were no first rate paintings for her to study. It
Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
was Louisine Havemeyer's enthusiastic support of Mary 11. Letter from Mary Cassatt at Grasse 26_ 1928 to M. Delltre, 87 rue
Cassatt's aim that gave to the United States an artistic Lepic, Montmartre, Paris, Del,tre file, Boston Public Library Print
heritage it so needed, both in the works of Cassatt herself andDepartment.

in the works of other artists they bought together. * 12. Havemeyer, Pennsylvania Museum Bulletin, 377-82.
13. Aline B. Saarinen, The Proud Possessors (New York: Random House,
1. Louisine W. Havemeyer, Sixteen to Sixty: Memoirs of A Collector, (New1958), 170.
York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1961), 249.
2. Ibid., 189.
ALICIA FAXON is Assistant Professor of Art at Simmons College
3. Ibid., 190. where she has curated several exhibitions of women artists. As
4. Ibid., 192. curator at the Danforth Museum, Framingham, Massachusetts, she
5. Ibid., 84. wrote the catalogue for "The Prints of Mary Cassatt." HerCatalogue
Raissone of the Prints of Jean-Louis Forain has just been published
6. Fondation Custodia (Collection F. Lugt), Institut Neerlandais, Paris,
1971-A. 539 through 1971-A. 544. I have taken the liberty of by Garland.

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