Le Maître Paul Cézanne (The Master Paul Cezanne)
Paris: Henri Floury, 1923. Limited first edition (Deluxe edition). Hardcover. 1/75. 242, [2]pp. + 4 pages of ads bound in. Period 3/4 dark green morocco over green decorative paper boards. Spine sunned to brown color. Raised bands and gilt lettering on the spine. Marbled endpapers. Original illustrated wrappers bound in. This is #57 from a deluxe limited edition of 75 numbered copies, printed on Japan paper, which include an additional "before lettering" version of the front wrapper graphic (self-portrait of Cezanne), an original etching by Cezanne ("Portrait de Guillaumin"), and an additional full page color plate reproduction ("Les Terres Rouges" aka "The Bellevue Plain"). Numbered on the colophon at the front.
This finely produced monograph on Paul Cezanne, written by his friend, art critic George Riviére (1855-1943), serves as a biography as well as an early catalog raisonne of the artist's work*. The book is profusely illustrated with a total of 60 beautiful plates interleaved throughout, reproducing 38 individual pieces by Cezanne. These plates include the previously mentioned additional material for the deluxe edition, as well as the frontispiece painted portrait of Cezanne's father, by the artist. The plates are printed variously in b/w or high quality full color offset, as well as gorgeous full color, b/w or sepia-toned gravure images. Many of the works are represented via two plates, each with a color variant in printing, i.e. b/w and sepia, or variant of the full color printing. In addition there are a total of 56 in-text illustrations, which are b/w offset reproductions.
The appendix section at the back contains a table of contents, lists of plates and in-text illustrations, a detailed chronological list of the artist's work, an exhibition history, and a record of sales for Cezanne's artwork.
Bound in at the rear is a 4-page illustrated advertising pamphlet for this Paul Cezanne work, issued by publisher Henri Floury. The final page contains text advertising other fine art monographs published by Floury, including Riviére's work on Renoir.
Spine re-backed and sunned. Front and back boards bumped along the side edge. Interior with some foxing to the free endpapers, frontispiece, half-tile and title page. Additional very sporadic minor to light foxing to pages throughout, mostly confined to the margins, with the majority of text and images clean and vibrant. Age toning to some pages. Binding and interior in very good condition overall. vg. Item #55594
George Riviére (1855-1943) was publisher, art critic and artist. He was a close associated and friend of a number of the impressionist and post-impressionist French artists including Cezanne and Renoir. He published the art periodical "L'Impressionniste" and other works on the subject. He was father-in-law to Cezanne's son.
* The first complete catalog raisonne for Cezanne would not be published until 1936.
Price: $2,500.00