Ambroise Vollard: Maximilien Luce

"Morning, Interior" by Maximilien Luce

"What a curious character as a painter was Maximilien Luce, and what a good fellow! Although he did nothing to push himself, and moreover professed the most violently anarchist theories, he had his customers. As a matter of fact, a purchaser who is frightened may sheer off for a time, but he will always come back if the painter interests him.

At the time when Luce was beginning to be sought after, I had in my window a picture of his representing a cathedral. A lady who was passing stopped to look at the painting, and asked me:

'How much?'

'Eight hundred fancs.'

'Eight hundred francs! That's not a great painter's price.'

And she went away, saying to the friend who was with her, loud enough for me to hear:

'All the same, I did like that picture very much. But one must be sensible. If one began buying pictures by second-rate painters . . . '

Some of Luce's comrades were complaining one day, in his presence, of the difficulty of 'arriving.' 'Hang it all!' cried Luce, 'one doesn't paint for the sake of 'arriving,' but for one's pleasure.'"

To be continued

(Excerpts from "Recollections of a Picture Dealer" by Ambroise Vollard.)