Frédéric Bazille Quote

If I did not know how unhappy you [Monet, his friend] are, I certainly would not take the trouble to respond to the letter that reached me this morning. You try to demonstrate to me that I don't keep my promises, but you have only succeeded in proving to me your ingratitude. As far as I know I had never had the air to give you charity. I know to the contrary, better than everyone, the value of the painting that I have purchased [Monet's painting 'Woman in the garden' purchased by Bazille] and I very much regret not being wealthy enough to offer you better conditions

In: a letter of 2 Jan. 1867 to Monet, who accused Bazille of cheating with the price of the painting; as quoted in Monet and His Muse: Camille Monet in the Artist's Life, Mary Mathews Gedo; University of Chicago Press, 2010, p 72