Manet and the Asparagus

Known since ancient times, the subject of poetry and verse, revered for its diuretic properties, asparagus was also painted by Edouard Manet.
We are in France in 1880, and a wealthy banker, famous collector, and patron of the arts named Charles Ephrussi, commissions Manet to paint a still life depicting a bunch of asparagus.
They agreed on a price of 800 francs, but the magnate insisted on paying 1000, stating that he couldn't pay less for such a painting.
Manet decided to return the favor by sending Ephrussi a painting with a single asparagus, along with a note that said: "Il en manquait une à votre botte" (One was missing from your bunch).

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