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773 Joseph Roulin to Vincent van Gogh. Marseille, Monday, 13 May 1889.

metadata
No. 773 (Brieven 1990 776, Complete Letters -)
From: Joseph Roulin
To: Vincent van Gogh
Date: Marseille, Monday, 13 May 1889

Source status
Original manuscript

Location
Amsterdam, Van Gogh Museum, inv. no. b1070 V/1962

Date
Letter headed: ‘Marseille le 13 mai 1889’.

original text
 1r:1
Marseille le 13 mai 1889

Monsieur Vincent
Si j’ait tarder à vous écrirre, je croyais pouvoir disposé de ma journée de repos pour aller vous voir; comme ne je n’ai pu me rendre à Arles, je viens vous demander des nouvelles de votre santé, êtes vous bien rétabli depuis notre dernière entrevue.1 vous me paraissiez disposé à bien reprendre vos traveaux, la campagne est belle, les modèles ne doivent pas vous manquer. Si vous me fésiez l’honneur d’une réponse vous me fériez un grand plaisir.
avez vous reçu des nouvelles de Mr votre frère. pour quand taa moi ma santé est très bonne. j’ai reçu une lettre de mon épouse laquelle me dit qu’elle va très bien ainssi que Marcelle, Armand et Camille.2 il se joignent à moi pour vous présenter leur respect et désire  1v:2 que ma lettre vous trouve en bonne santé. si vous avez l’occasions de voir Mr et Mme Ginoux ainssi que les amis Mr Mme Bressy,3 Péllissier4 et tous les amis qui s’intéressent à moi, faites leur bien des compliment ou dite le à Mr Ginoux qui leb fassent pour vous.
Reçevez, Mon cher Mr Vincent, les salutations de celui qui se dit votre tous devoué ami

Roulin, courrier Convoyeur5

.57. Rue Breteuil .57.
chez Mme Delpal6
Marseille
(B. du Rhone)

translation
 1r:1
Marseille 13 May 1889

Mr Vincent,
If I have delayed in writing to you, I thought I could use my day off to go and see you; as I was not able to come to Arles, I come to ask you for news of your health, are you well recovered since our last conversation?1 You seemed to me disposed to begin your work in earnest again, the countryside is beautiful, you cannot lack for models. You would give me great pleasure if you did me the honour of a reply.
Have you received news of your esteemed brother? As for me, my health is very good. I received a letter from my wife telling me that she is very well, as are Marcelle, Armand and Camille.2 They join me in sending you their respects, and hope  1v:2 that my letter finds you in good health. If you have the occasion to see Mr and Mrs Ginoux and the friends Mr and Mrs Bressy,3 Pelissier4 and all the friends who are interested in me, give them my best regards, or tell Mr Ginoux to do it for you.
My dear Mr Vincent, accept the regards of he who declares himself to be your entirely devoted friend

Roulin, Railway Postman5

57, rue Breteuil, 57.
c/o Mrs Delpal6
Marseille
(Bouches du Rhône)
notes
1. Van Gogh and Roulin had last seen each other around Thursday, 4 April (see letter 754). Apparently he did not know of Van Gogh’s departure for Saint-Rémy; the letter must therefore have been forwarded from Arles.
a. Read: ‘quant à’.
2. Madame Roulin and the children were staying with her mother in Lambesc.
3. Most likely Antoine Bressy, railway employee, and his wife Madeleine Ferrary. They lived in the Quartier de la Cavalerie (ACA). Place Lamartine, on which the Yellow House and Ginoux’s café bordered, was also in this district.
4. Most likely the farmer Antoine Pelissier, who lived in avenue de Montmajour and was, like Roulin, a native of Lambesc (ACA).
b. Read: ‘qu’il le fasse’.
5. Regarding Roulin’s position in Marseille, see letter 736, n. 14.
6. Roulin lived with Joseph Delpal and his wife Julienne Bloyet (Archives Municipales de Marseille). Van Gogh made a note of her name (as ‘Madame Degal’) and address on letter 742.