Letter 501b [Letter from Russell to Vincent van Gogh; see letter 514]
Belle-Ile-en-Mer Morbihan July 22nd 1888
My dear Vincent,
Excuse not answering your letter of some weeks or two ago. I’ve been much worried by the changing to this island, packing up and other things.
It is most good of you to give Monsieur Goguin [sic] a leg up. Not knowing the man I can’t say if he deserves it. I hope it for your sake.
I would like to help you. But how? There is but one legitimate way i.e. By purchasing one of his works.
The very last day in Paris I tried to fetch Boussod, Veladon & Cie in to see the picture you speak of “niggers etc.�but failed through want of time. For others I saw, that big one of yours unfortunately swamps in my opinion. So I am in a fix.
Young Bernard invites me from Ste Briain [note, the name is hard to read �might be Briain or Brieuc].
Complains much of the weather interfering with his work.
Before I left Paris I lunched with M. Rodin (who has finished a fine head of my wife) and M. Claude Monet, saw ten of M. Monets pictures done at Antibes. Very fine in colour and light of a certain richness of envelop. But like nearly all the so called impressionist work the form is not enough studied. The big mass of form I mean. The trees too much wood in branches for the size of the trunk and so against fundamental law of nature. A lack of construction everywhere. He is undoubtedly a remarkable colourist, and full of courage in attacking difficult problems. We should all do the same. ‘T is the only way to get strong.
Luckily here in Belle-Ile I am forced to try all things, figures, landscape, sea, cattle etc., etc. otherwise would [The end of the letter is missing.]