THEATRE DES MARIONNETTES DU JARDIN DES TUILERIES
1863. Item #87807
DURANTY, [Louis-Emile Edmond]. THEATRE DES MARIONNETTES DU JARDIN DES TUILERIES. Texte et composition des dessins par M. Duranty. Paris: Imprimerie de Dubuisson et Cie., (1863). First edition. Illustrated with 24 hand-colored plates and with 25 color vignette illustrations laid-down on text pages within a printed double-rule border. [2] ff., ii, 387, [3] pp. Quarto, 11 by 7.5 in. (28 x 19 cm), in a modern binding of red cloth-backed marbled boards, with a black morocco spine label, and the original printed paper wrappers bound-in. The text is comprised of a brief introduction followed by the texts of 24 plays performed at the puppet theater in the Tuilieries Garden. Each play is accompanied by a full-page plate and has a vignette illustration laid-down at the head of the first page. The plays and illustrations feature Commedia dell'arte characters such as Polichinelle, Arlequin, Cassandre, Le Gendarme, Le Diable, Columbine, Pierrot, and Le Sorcier. Although this copy lacks the dedication page and has some scattered light foxing throughout, it is otherwise complete and attractive, having bright and lively illustrations, and in very good condition. Edmond Duranty (1833-1880) was an author and influential art critic, being the first to write an insightful analysis of Impressionism in 1876. Initially a champion of Realism, having co-founded the monthly journal Realisme in 1856, and having written several novels in the Realist-Naturalist style in the 1860s, he became a champion of the new Impressionist art after 1863 when Emilie Zola introduced him to Impressionist painters. Edouard Manet and Edgar Degas became good friends, and Degas painted a great portrait of him in 1879. References: Vicaire III: 534. Sorensen, Lee. "Duranty, [Louis-Emile] Edmond Duranty." Dictionary of Art Historians (website). www.dictionaryofarthistorians.org/durantyl.htm.
Price: $500.00