[Autograph]. [Marie-Antoinette]. Jean-François AUTIÉ (1758-1 - Lot 26

[Autograph]. [Marie-Antoinette]. Jean-François AUTIÉ (1758-1794), better known as Léonard, hairdresser to Queen Marie-Antoinette. Letter, probably autograph, signed "Léonard", then, perhaps in another hand, "Valet de chambre Coëffeur de La Reine", [addressed to Count d'Angiviller (1730-1809), Director General of the King's Buildings, ca. April 1788]. One folio page (slight fold mark in 4, 2 small staple holes in margin). Extremely rare signature on this interesting missive, in which Léonard asks the comte d'Angiviller for lodgings at the Château de Versailles, "situated in the entresolle off the vestibulle de la Comédie and next to the foyer of the loge de Monsieur...". Autograph note signed by d'Angiviller: "à M. Heurtier pour me rendre compte ce 29 avril 1788". There is some confusion between Marie-Antoinette's famous hairdresser, Léonard-Alexis, and his brother Jean-François; the latter succeeded him in the Queen's service, except on exceptional occasions, apparently from 1787, when Léonard-Alexis, having made his fortune, decided to devote himself to a career as theater director. The date of this request has led us to attribute it to Jean-François, who also called himself "Léonard" in the course of his activities. The negative answer appears at the bottom of the page, justified by the fact that the room in question is occasionally used "as a workshop when some work is done in the theatre". But it also includes the amusing fact that the room in question is located right next to the Queen's "English rooms"...