ALS in French, four pages on two adjoining sheets, 4 x 6.5, [February 20, 1893]. Letter to his wife Alice, written from Rouen while working on his cathedral series. In part (translated): "My darling, I'm going back to sleep and find your letter. Of course I would be delighted to see you and to give pleasure to my brother [Leon Monet] but frankly I'm just starting to organize myself and to be fine at work. And my faith, I think the first thing is to think of working. I had too many disappointments last year. I rely on you to come over to Rouen once with the little girl, and Blanche [Alice's daughter]. So it could be when I will be a bit advanced in my work and also when there will be some more vegetation to see the Jardin des Plantes. I write immediately to my brother. He is very kind, there is less discomfort with his family than with strangers. But he should understand that I need to be quiet. I kiss you as I love you, Claude Monet." He adds a lengthy postscript to the interior pages: "Your coming anyway would put me in trouble, because at this time I really need all my will, with all my strength to pull me out of this great difficulty…These tuggings already exasperate me. P.S. I do not understand the silence of Jean [Monet’s son], except that he thought avoiding me a disturbance, which could excuse him. In fact I feel that if it is renewed I will give up all work here. I'm sure I will not go to sleep." In fine condition. Accompanied by an export certificate from the French Ministry of Culture.In the middle of February 1893, Monet stayed at the Hotel d'Angleterre to complete his series of paintings of Rouen’s Cathedral that he started the year before. As a perfectionist, he was eternally dissatisfied with his artwork, alluded to in his reference to the "many disappointments last year" and his struggle to work. During his two-month stay in Rouen from February 16 to April 11, he often shared the table of his brother Leon, who ran a small chemical business in which Jean was hired. Monet's thirty paintings of the Rouen Cathedral, beautifully capturing its gothic facade in different lighting conditions, are considered to be among his finest works.Format: ALS