SACRED ART - Wladimir POLISSADIW-POL-DIVES(1883- murdered 19 - Lot 451

SACRED ART - Wladimir POLISSADIW-POL-DIVES(1883- murdered 1940, Ukrainian artist described as "at the crossroads of Avant-Garde, Mysticism and Sacred Art", having fled Tsarist Russia after his conversion to Catholicism, He trained at the Beaux-Arts in Paris, and in the '30s rubbed shoulders with the Avant-Garde de l'Arts Sacré, a group of penniless Catholic artists grouped under the banner of the "Black Misery" Movement - Jacques MARITAIN(1882-1973, philosopher and theologian (Thomist) / Autograph letter fromJacques MARITAIN, 1 p in-8, Meudon, to his "dearPol-Dives" (Wladimir Polissadiw): He informs him that he will recommend toPère Couturier Henri Héraut's article, "le P. Couturier is loyalty itself, if there were any misunderstanding, go and see him and speak to him directly" - If he didn't publish the article in question, "it's because he finds it perhaps badly done", "the best thing would be to discuss this with him" [Alain COUTURIER, 1897-191), Dominican priest, artist and art theorist, one of the main protagonists of the revival of Sacred Art in France] - Wladimir POLISSADIWhas sent this letter from Jacques Maritain to his friend and discipleHenri HERAUT(1894-1989, painter of Armenian origin); He added to this letter an important autograph note signed "Pol'Dives", adding the date July 6, 1937:"Here, dear friend, is a letter-answer from the great Jacques Maritainwhich does us great honor. I think we should follow his advice and go and see P. Couturier directly in his convent. If he is "loyalty itself", we'll finally know and perhaps obtain publication of your article, or at least know what offends them in it and what we could change - but, of course, it's essential that you, the author, go with me. You're wasting your time talking to the "fox". Let's get straight to the point: we have Maritain's support" - Wladimir POLISSADIW's letters are extremely rare.