Beschreibung:

CHAGALL, Marc (1887-1985, artist), Meyer SCHAPIRO and Jean WAHL. Illustrations for the Bible [ Verve VIII, nos. 33/34]. [London]: A. Zwemmer Ltd, 1956. 2° (355 x 262mm). Colour-printed lithographic title and 16 plates, and 12 lithographic plates on 30 sheets by and after Chagall printed by Mourlot Fréres [Cain The Lithographs of Marc Chagall 117-146], 105 heliogravure plates after Chagall on 53 sheets printed by Draeger Fréres. (Some very light marginal and dampstaining.) Original boards covered with a colour-printed lithograph by and after Chagall (extremities lightly rubbed, light marking, short splits on joints, upper hinge split). FIRST EDITION, British issue. Verve issue 33/34 Illustrations for the Bible was a special double issue of the periodical, dedicated to Chagall's illustrations for the Bible (Paris: 1956, 295 copies), and reproduced the 105 etched illustrations in heliogravure. Although Chagall's Bible was begun in 1931, it was only finished 25 years later, when it swiftly established itself as 'one of the very few major Bible illustrations of the 20th century' ( The Artist and the Book 1860-1960 , 53). Illustrations for the Bible added 18 new colour-printed lithographs and 12 monochrome lithographs to the 105 heliogravures, including the colour-printed lithograph which covers the binding. The edition consisted of 6,500 copies, all with lithographs printed by the master lithographers Mourlot, and was issued worldwide under the imprints of Verve (Paris), A.W. Bruna & Zoon (Utrecht), Harcourt Brace (New York) and Zwemmer (London). Cramer Chagall. The Illustrated Books 25 (Paris issue); Schauwers Bibliothèque de Madame Louis Solvay 863 (Paris issue); cf. Hogben and Watson From Manet to Hockney 88 (note).