Camille Pissarro's Autographed Letter in Support of Emile Zola Amidst the Dreyfus Affair

March 5, 1898

Add to History Board Share Print
Back to The Collection
Manuscript
See full images and transcript
Camille Pissarro's Autographed Letter in Support of Emile Zola Amidst the Dreyfus Affair
Autograph Letter Signed
1 page | SMC 919

Quick Reference

  • Camille Pissarro

    Background

    The French Impressionist Camille Pissarro, born to Jewish parents but himself an atheist, hostile to religion, was nonetheless drawn to the defense of Alfred Dreyfus, in no small measure by the overt antisemitism of the case. Dreyfus, a Jewish French Army captain, was wrongly accused and convicted of treason in 1894.

    An early Dreyfusard, here Pissarro proudly signs on to a committee to strike a medal honoring Emile Zola who, just days before, was convicted of libel for his accusation that the Dreyfus affair was a vicious miscarriage of justice.
    Autograph Letter Signed (“C. Pissarro”), in French, 1 page, on black-bordered mourning stationery, Hotel du Louvre, Paris, March 5, 1898. To Dear Sir.
    Read More

    all pages and transcript

    Page 1/1

    Page 1 transcript
    Paris
    Hotel du Louvre
    5 mars 98

    Monsieur
    Ce sera pour moi un grand honneur de faire partie du commite qui doit faire frapper une medaille en l’honeur de Zola.
    Agreer, Monsieur, l’assurance de mes sentiments distingues.
    C. Pissarro


    [Translation]

    Paris
    Hotel du Louvre
    March 5, 1898

    Sir,
    I will be deeply honored to be a member of the committee that will be responsible for minting a medal in honor of Zola.
    Yours Sincerely,
    C. Pissarro