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Mr. Jean Gavray
New York, N. Y.

Cont'd.      -2-      January 4, 1953

Balance brought forward      $1,600.00

Carrogis, Louis called CARMONTELLE (Cont'd.)

Here represented are "the mother, her two daughters, Jeanne Viguiere their faithful maid, the son, and his friend, young Lavaysee".

The title is taken from the engraving which was made by Delafosse.

However, the scene represents a happy moment for this family, as the document being read to them heralds their liberation from prison, where they had been condemned through a miscarriage of justice.  Their freedom was due to a great extent to the interest the great Voltaire took in their case. He was one of their ardent defenders, and wrote briefs to the King protesting the family's innocence.

Note:  A water color of much smaller dimensions (11" x 15-3/4") [[strikethrough]], also by Carmontelle, represents the same subject treated differently, however. See appended note and its addendum by Mr. Francois Boucher comparing this drawing to the water color which was formerly in the David Weill collection. According to him this drawing was carried out directly on the "spot", whereas the water color was made later toward the engraving.

Collection: M. Cailac
Georges Levy
Jean Oppenheim - Paris

Transcription Notes:
. underline notation omitted per Smithsonian