SD2289. Sarianna Browning to William Allingham

Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 26, 364 (in part).

Dieppe

Sept. 15 [1859]

My dear Mr Allingham,

This counts as a postscript to my yesterday’s letter. I send you the following account, taken from Valpeau’s dictionary– Gustave Doré, peintre dessinateur, born at Strasbourg, 1833, came to Paris ’45, completed his studies at the College Charlemagne, worked from 1848, with Bertale in the “journal pour rire.” The same year he produced some pen drawings exhibited at the Salon, and some albums, which had a certain success– To the ensuing salons he sent new pictures,—“les pine sauvages”—“le lendemain de l’orage”—“les deux mères”—“la prairie”—“le Soir” from ’49-’53. He sent to the exhibition of 55 la bataille de l’Alma, and 9 views with the battle of Inkerman, to that of 57,—the last obtained an honourable mention. He furnished a great number of designs for the “journal pour tous” (a penny periodical) brought out with Philippon “le musée Anglo-Francais[”]—illustrated Rabelais ’54—the Juif Errant & the contes drolatiques ’56—and the tales of Perrault, and Montaigne’s essays in ’57. He has a brother; a musician known by some romances, and a mass performed at Notre Dame dedorette.

I have just received letters from my brother & sister. She must have been very ill, and is gaining strength but slowly. The day they wrote, she had, for the first time, taken a drive in the open air, and was much exhausted. She still wrote with great enthousiasm [sic] of the good done by the emperor to Italy, and the deep gratitude felt for him by the Italians. Robert and the child were quite well, the latter enchanted with a pony which they have given him, to ride about the mountains.

I hope to see you soon—and with my father’s kind regards and mine, believe me, dear Mr Allingham,

Very sincerely yours,

Sarianna Browning.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.

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