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St. François d’Assise (St. Francis of Assisi).
Les Fioretti.
Paris: Tradition du Livre, 1964.
Two volumes, complete. Illustrated throughout in color and black & white.
Edition limited to 3426 numbered sets, of which this set is ONE OF ONLY 50 printed on fine wove paper, bound in full black morocco, and SIGNED BY EDY-LEGRAND.
Accompanying this set, exceptionally, are TWO LARGE AND STUNNING ORIGINAL GOUACHES: “Songe d’Innocent III” / “Dream of Innocent III” and “En présence de l’évêque d’Assise, François se dépouille de ses richesses” / “In the Presence of the Bishop of Assissi, St. Francis Strips Himself of His Worldly Riches”.
Both of these gouaches are reproduced in the book (on a much smaller scale) as double-page plates (vol. I, between pp. 16 and 17; vol. II, between pp. 80 and 81).
Gouache and india ink on fine wove paper. Each painting measures 50 x 65.2 cm. (Three times the size of the double-page plates that reproduce them.)
The artwork used in this publication is especially interesting as there is a section in each volume where the artist himself comments on each of the works used. The artist’s commentaries on these specific works appear in volume I, p 261; and volume II, p. 232.
THESE TWO GOUACHES, aside from depicting two of the most important scenes from the book, ARE AMONG EDY-LEGRAND’S TRULY OUTSTANDING ILLUSTRATIONS.
The colors are bright and fresh. The reproductions in the book, only one-third the size, do not do them justice.
Folio.
BEAUTIFULLY BOUND IN FULL BLACK MOROCCO BY ENGEL.
IN ABSOLUTELY PERFECT CONDITION, WITH NO DEFECTS.
SURELY THE BEST POSSIBLE SET of an important work by one of the great book artists–even one of the great artists–of the 20th century.
