Beethoven, Magritte, and Einstein Letters to Auction
RR Auction
Rene Magritte signed autograph letter with surrealist sketch: "Below is a sketch of a new painting"
Letters written by Ludwig van Beethoven, Albert Einstein, James A. Garfield, and René Magritte lead RR Auction's October Fine Autographs and Artifacts auction.
Highlights include an autograph letter signed by René Magritte written in 1962 to art historian Suzi Gablik. Magritte talks about critics in the letter, muses on his exhibitions in Knokke and Minneapolis, and complains about his short-lived Lancia Flavia automobile. He also includes a surrealist sketch for a new painting, depicting an open doorway and half a horse.
Other highlights include:
- an autograph letter signed by Ludwig van Beethoven, circa 1817–1818 to the father of Viennese child prodigy Leopoldine Blahetka arranging a visit
- a handwritten letter on Executive Mansion signed by President James A. Garfield dated March 7, 1881, three days after his inauguration accepting the resignation of outgoing Attorney General Charles Devens with respect and gratitude
- Albert Einstein's handwritten draft paragraph on the Theory of Relativity written in 1948 on an envelope panel in which he reflects on the limits of relativity: "The general field laws are not sufficiently determined by the general principle of relativity alone."
The sale, which began on September 22, concludes on October 8,
