Beschreibung:

GOETHE, Johann Wolfgang von (1749-1832) and Eugène DELACROIX (1798-1863, illustrator). Faust , translated into French by Albert Stapfer, Paris: C. Motte and Sautelet, 1828. 2° (426 x 295mm.), lithographic portrait of Goethe, on India paper mounted, 17 lithographic plates, all by Motte after Delacroix. BINDING DESIGNED BY PAUL BONET of dark green levant morocco, the covers with repeated overall design of scrolling gilt fillets and red morocco onlays radiating from a central oval area, the flat spine lettered in gilt with between scrolling gilt fillets and red morocco onlays, dark red calf turn-ins, inner hinges and edging to endleaves, green suede doublures and endleaves, original pictorial wrappers bound-in, gilt edges, leather-lined dark green half morocco chemise, slipcase, signed and dated 1954. Provenance : Dr. Roudinesco (bookplate). In Ray's words, this is "one of the supreme illustrated books of the world," here in a modernist binding by Bonet. Delacroix intended his illustrations to be a manifesto for Romanticism in art, and initially the designs met with a hostile reception from both the critics and the public. Goethe himself was one of the few people to recognise their merits from the start. "Only gradually did Faust begin to be appreciated as the most significant illustrated book of its time ... Goethe's judgement has long since prevailed .... Indeed, even the creators of livres de peintres see it as the first link in their own tradition," states Ray. It is to this link that Bonet's binding pays homage. Bonet Carnet 1084 (plate 109); Cartaret III, 270-272; Ray French 143.