Astruc, a Literary Man
James Abbot McNeill Whistler (1834–1903)
Signed and dated in plate, lower left: Whistler 1859
Drypoint on thin laid paper
225 x 152 mm.
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
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According to Robert W. Getscher, “Zacharie Astruc, a close friend of Manet, was the editor of the journal L'Artiste and a critic, poet, sculptor, and painter. He posed for many of his friends and was included by Fantin-Latour in several of his group portraits. Astruc was one of the most favorable reviewers of the Salon des Refuses in 1863, and for the Salon catalogue of 1865 he wrote some verses to accompany Manet's scandalous nude, Olympia. In 1874 Astruc was also one of the exhibitors in the first Impressionist Exhibition.” (33).