Wladimir POLISSADIW - POL-DIVES (1883–assassinated 1940), a - Lot 48

Lot 48
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Wladimir POLISSADIW - POL-DIVES (1883–assassinated 1940), a - Lot 48
Wladimir POLISSADIW - POL-DIVES (1883–assassinated 1940), a Ukrainian artist described as “at the crossroads of the Avant-Garde, Mysticism, and Sacred Art,” who fled Tsarist Russia after his conversion to Catholicism, he studied fine arts in Paris and, in the 1930s, associated with the avant-garde of sacred art—a group of penniless Catholic artists who gathered under the banner of the “Black Misery” Movement) - Jacques MARITAIN (1882–1973, philosopher and theologian (Thomist) / Autograph signed letter by Jacques MARITAIN, 1 p. in-8, Meudon, to his “dear Pol-Dives” [Wladimir Polissadiw]): He informs him that he will recommend Henri Héraut’s article to Father Couturier: “Father Couturier is the very embodiment of loyalty; if there were any misunderstanding, go see him and speak to him directly” - If he has not published the article in question, “it is perhaps because he finds it poorly written”; “the best thing would be to discuss this with him” [Alain COUTURIER (1897–1951, Dominican priest, artist, and art theorist; one of the leading figures in the revival of sacred art in France] - Wladimir POLISSADIW forwarded this letter from Jacques Maritain to his friend and disciple Henri HERAUT (1894–1989, painter of Armenian origin) - He added an important handwritten note to the letter itself, signed “Pol’Dives,” and dated July 6, 1937: “Here, dear friend, is a reply from the great Jacques Maritain, which does us great honor. I believe we should follow his advice and go see Father Couturier directly at his monastery. If he is ‘loyalty itself,’ we will finally have clarity and may even secure the publication of your article, or at the very least, we will know what offends them in this article and what could be changed. But, of course, it’s essential that you, the author, come with me. You’re wasting your time talking to the ‘fox.’ You’re cutting yourself off from a solution. So let’s get straight to the point. We have Maritain’s support.” "I have received your reply. Thank you. I haven’t read it yet. These are important statements that one reads with a clear head and reflects on at length before responding. In the meantime, may peace be with you. It is not theoretical differences that can divide the knights of the M.C.” — Wladimir POLISSADIW’s letters are extremely rare [See Serhiy BLATVATSKYY’s particularly fascinating study on the BNF website]
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