Letter From The Princess

24th May 1896, Sofia

Her Royal Highness Madame la Princess assigned me to inform you that it is her desire to see your maquettes and in general everything that is easily transported, and that you might be able to show them to her this afternoon at 4:00 pm.

Please accept my best regards,

Mademoiselle Petroff Tchomakoff

Lady-in-waiting to Her Royal Highness

This letter was handwritten in French by lady-in-waiting Petroff Tchomakoff on behalf of Princess Maria Luisa di Borbone, wife of the Prince of Bulgaria Ferdinand I.

There was a strong connection between Boris Schatz and the Bulgarian Government. In 1878 Bulgaria was proclaimed an independent Christian principality, and in 1887 Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gota-Kohary was appointed Prince of Bulgaria. In his efforts to remove all traces of Turkish rule and emphasize the ancient Slavic elements of Bulgarian culture, he urged artists to reveal the beauty and grace of folk-life. Boris Schatz was one of the artists who spearheaded this action.

Boris Schatz
Born Russian Empire, 1866-1932
Macedonian Holding an Axe
1898
Plaster
36 x 25 cm
National Art Gallery, Sofia

Saint Louis, letter to Dora Gabe

Letter from Boris Schatz to 16-year old Dora Gabe (as “Granny”), dated 1904

Dear Granny,

…It is very hard to get through the day…So many new impressions and no dear soul nearby with whom I can share my feelings… On show at the exhibition are great creations of the human mind and miracles of the universe… I have even become friendly with two Japanese artists…an Indian warlock and an Arabic fencer… It is a strange friendship because we cannot communicate with one another. They recognize in me an admirer of their talent, and because of that, they give me their wide smiles and sometimes cheerfully slap me on the shoulder. Some live at the exhibition as if at home…with their wives, children, pets, and other things. I visit them not as a spectator who pays money. Their children put their heads on my knees.

In March 1904, Boris Schatz was sent to the United States to help set up the exhibition of the Bulgarian Pavilion at theUniversal Exposition in St. Louis. “On show at the exhibition are great creations of the human mind and miracles of the universe”, he wrote in this letter. Beside handicrafts, many works of art were shown on themes chosen to showcase Bulgarian national identity, part of a government effort to create a public image for the young country in its bid to join the family of modern nations. Schatz remained in St. Louis for ten months. He sent this letter to 16-year old Dora Gabe, to whom he referred to as “Granny” in his correspondences.

Postcard to Boris Schatz, World's Fair, St. Louis, USA, 04/08/1904

National Museum

Text of a letter in Bulgarian to Boris Schatz dated Dec. 21, 1905 Sent from the National Museum of Bulgaria, Sofia

We inform you, Sir, that the Ministry of Art and Culture has agreed to purchase from you one bas-relief portrait of the highly distinguished book publishing pioneer and national activist Hristo G. Danov for the sum of 400.00 lev. Please prepare the above-mentioned bas-relief from chiseled bronze…

Signature: V. Dobrusky

In this typewritten letter on official museum stationery, Vaclav Dobrusky, director of the newly-established National Museum of Bulgaria, commissions a bronze bas-relief sculpture of Hristo G. Danov from Boris Schatz, for which he will be paid 400 lev. After Danov’s death in 1911, the relief was replicated in a memorial plaque in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where Danov served as mayor.

Letter from the King

Letter from the Chief of the Royal Cabinet to Boris Schatz, 22 March 1911

Dear Sir,

I have the honor to inform you that the two ibises [birds] whose shipment you spoke of in your letter of last January 25th were received and presented to His Highness the King.

His Highness was very moved by your gracious gesture and has asked me to inform you of His sincere gratitude for his interesting shipment.

Please accept the expression of my distinguished sentiments.

Chief of the Royal Cabinet,

L. Dobrovitz

Boris Schatz
Born Russian Empire, 1866-1932
Jeremaiah
1911
Bronze
76 x 87 cm
National Art Gallery, Sofia