Description
Ink, pen, watercolor, paper; 35 x 23.5 cm
Signed p.d.: may 54
On the reverse in pencil: To Kornel Makuszyński, / Poem / "A costumed officer from the royal guard / Came to ask her today to the ball at Versailles; stamp: May Berezowska Warsaw
Framed
Asking price 5000
Estimate 6200 - 6500
◙ droit de suite
Illustration for Kornel Makuszynski's poem "Marquise and Death III".
The Marquise sticks a bow tie on her face, Then paints blood on her coral lips.... A costumed officer from the royal guard Came to ask her to the ball at Versailles tonight. Already she is holding her foot on the step of the carriage, When a pale musketeer rode his horse in front of her: "Lady! your lover died, alas, Of honoring yourself by beating your From the thrust of his sword..." Her gaze for a moment, brooding, goes out And a tear like a pearl rolls from under her eyelids.... Dying, when to the ball I'm just going, Insincere ? I see ? loved me this man!" "Beautiful are you, when sorrow darkens you, Farewell ? I will recite the prayers tomorrow ..." And then looking long into his eyes: "...Or sit in the carriage with me, cavalier !"





