Saturday, 24 November 1883
These ladies try to make me believe it was two hundred and thirty francs — but I saw perfectly well that the 2 on the catalogue had been altered from a 1. They told the Princess and the others it was four hundred and thirty francs. O truth! In any case the hundred and thirty francs are real. These ladies cannot get over it; Dina says she thought everyone was looking at her, and Maman had turned her head away in terror. She had been expecting a sum varying from ten to fifteen francs, and so had I. I still can scarcely believe it, it seems so splendid to me.
Something astonishing has just happened and gives me great pleasure.
My fisherman, which I had donated to the Ischia lottery, turns out to be at the Hôtel Drouot as part of a collection of various paintings. The husband of one of the chambermaids came in alarm to announce that a canvas signed Bashkirtseff was at the sale rooms and would be sold this evening; Maman and Dina went and witnessed the auction — at the price of one hundred and thirty francs. Does one hundred and thirty francs not affect you? It affects me greatly. There was no frame — only a simple moulding worth twenty francs. So my painting sold for one hundred francs at the Hôtel Drouot.
And then — I have found my Nausicaa! None of the models who had presented themselves were right. What was needed was nobility, grace... in the end I have found her — and who is it?
IRMA!
I had not seen her undressed for a long time and had forgotten her; I find her admirably beautiful... except for the chest, but in this pose... I am delighted.
It was yesterday I thought of her, and Rosalie went to fetch her this evening. Harmonious hips, divine legs... She is at the Batignolles theatre. I am so pleased that I fear she will escape me; every model I have seen until now is a poor nag beside this. To think I had only ever painted her head!..
But enough — it is not interesting, and if I let myself, I should write a whole page on my Nausicaa of Montmartre. The face is gamine, but it will not be seen in this pose. An admirable neck, a back like a goddess. Now there is work to be done.Ces dames essayent de me faire croire que c'est deux cent trente francs mais j'ai bien vu que le 2 avait été un 1 sur le catalogue. On a dit à la princesse et aux autres quatre cent trente francs. Ô vérité ! enfin les cent trente francs sont vrais. Ces dames n'en reviennent pas, Dina dit qu'elle croyait que tout le monde la regardait et maman avait détourné la tête avec terreur. Elle s'attendait à une somme variant de dix à quinze francs et moi aussi. Enfin je n'y crois pas encore tellement ça me paraît beau.