Author(s):
castelli, horace (in 1825 - in 1889), designer
other title: les misérables, hugues edition, including twenty original drawings for the series of etchings illustrating les misérables, published by the publisher albert lacroix. Volume i (title of the set)
production date: in 1865
dating in century: 3rd quarter of the 19th century
type(s) of object(s): manuscripts, printed matter, binding
name(s): book
materials and techniques: pencil, gouache, paper
dimensions - artwork:
height: 14. 6cm
width: 9. 6cm
dimensions - mounting:
height: 28cm
width: 17. 5cm
description:
gouache and pencil on curved paper glued to white paper inserted between pages 134 and 135 of volume i. Iconographic description:
jean valjan stealing the silver cutlery while monseigneur myriel sleeps. Illustration for "les misérables", i, ii, xi
historical commentary:
richly illustrated edition of 500 wood engravings, including 15 frontispieces and numerous mid-page engravings. The illustrations are engraved after e. Bayard, de neuville, brion, des brosses, j. -p. Laurens, e. Morin, h. Scott, adrien marie, valnay, lix, e. Delacroix, e. Zier, h. Vogel, hersent, haenens, benett, some by f. Méaulle, martin lanseval, bellenger, quesnel, froment, gillot. The work appeared in 233 deliveries. This copy is enriched with a set of 20 enhanced drawings laminated on china by horace castelli and alphonse neuville intended for the suite of engravings published by lacroix-verboecken. Some of these drawings were taken up by méaulle and signed by him alone in this hugues edition which reuses a number of illustrations from previous editions. It bears the engraved ex-libris of henriette lebaudy. Born ganay (1898-1983), wife of the industrialist jean lebaudy, she gathered with her husband a vast collection of books, the old part of which they donated, notably a set of manuscripts, to the municipal library of versailles. Bookplate by paul gavault (1886-1951), playwright, screenwriter and former director of the théâtre de l'odéon. The interest in this copy lies in the fact that it was full of all the drawings for the series of engravings published by lacroix. These sheets, previously unknown, are all the more precious because they allow us to redate and better understand this series of engravings of which they are the origin. Indeed, the series of etchings engraved by jean-jacques outhwaite has since vicaire been traditionally dated 1862, because it is generally found bound in the 8° copies of the original belgian edition of "les misérables" published by albert lacroix in 1862. But the original drawings presented here are for some dated between october 1865 and may 1866. The series of engravings must therefore be dated 1866. This dating also seems consistent with the cover of the collection of etchings kept by the museum and on which appears the parisian address of albert lacroix. However, this address only appears on the books from the publication of "songs of the streets and woods", i. E. In 1865. The staggering of the drawings which seem to inscribe them over the course of a meditated reading, and their workmanship (including the indication intended for the engraver, lights in white gouache) leaves no doubt that their nature is projects and not late repetitions (which would present a more polished appearance). This revised dating also seems more logical from a historical point of view. In 1862, lacroix had little reason to bear the expense of a series of engravings when his french associate, pagnere, produced one based on the drawings of gustave brion. But in 1866, after the publication of the popular edition illustrated by hetzel, in 1865, with which lacroix was very dissatisfied in his correspondence with victor hugo, we can better understand that he published a series of engravings in order to make the 8° copies that remained to him more attractive. The operation appears to have posed some difficulties. The project was started by horace castelli who designed the cover of the collection (which is only known from the engraving) and the first two plates in arched compositions. Alphonse de neuville then took up the project with rectangular compositions and the engraving of the “theft of the silverware” would be completed at the upper corners to be brought to this format while the portrait of “fantine” would remain arched. The rest of alphonse de neuville's drawings are characterized by very careful execution. Themes / subjects / places represented:
les miserables (v. Hugo)
person / character depicted:
valjean, jean (literary character); monsignor myriel (known as bienvenu; literary character)
date of acquisition: 2019
institution: maison de victor hugo - hauteville house
inventory number: 2019. 4. 1. 1. Date: En 1865.
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