Pine Tree
EDP107 $25

We are pleased to offer this superb selection of hand finished colored chromolithographs & photogravures from the rare and beautiful work, Encyclopedie de la Plante. Illustrated by the Art Nouveau luminaries of the day, it was an ambitious work, now exceedingly rare, designed to provide artists and others a complete reference work of beautiful flowers, fruits, vegetables & other ornamental plants. In his preface, Verneuil sweepingly condemns the 19th century as “sterile,” entirely bereft of decorative works, which, of course, is righted by the publication of this work.

Though perhaps this claim is a tad grandiose, it is indeed a wonderful study of plants. Each plant has between two & four images, depending on the merit of the plant in the author’s eye. There are a series of stunning hand finished chromolithographs from original water colors by famous artists of the day, including A. Bailly, Colmet d’age, de Schryver, Habert Dys, and Vedy. These are accompanied by superb photogravures by Plausewsky.

Additionally, there may be one or two detailed & ornamental drawings of all aspects of the plant by de Mucha, immortalized by his posters, so representative of the Art Nouveau period & other artists such as Meheut & Barberis.

Maurice Verneuil (1869-1942) was an architect who went on to a very active career as a photographer, collector & publisher. He assembled a remarkable collection of photographs by some of the most gifted of the early photographers such as Man Ray which was sold for almost a million dollars at Phillips after his death.

The turn of the 19th century was a time of enormous creativity in France, with the Expressionists & then the Art Nouveau or “New Art” movement, inspired by the “Arts & Crafts Movement” in England. Art Nouveau was an attempt to break down the barriers between artist & their audiences, and the art created then, including the ornate Paris subway entrances by Guillemard, the posters of de Mucha & the Sagrada Famila of Antonio Gaudi have all remained universally popular. Then too, was the flowering of the age of photography.

Each print is folio size at approximately 11 3/4 inches by 15 inches, and is in excellent condition on high quality paper. A copy of the title page will be included with each print.

These prints, which can be simply framed with a white black core rag mat & wood frame, are superbly decorative, with a unique vision that remains fresh & exciting to this very day. Please note we are selling them UNFRAMED.

We accept credit cards, PayPal, checks, and money orders. Washington state residents pay Washington state sales tax. Shipping for this item to U.S. addresses is $8.95. Items can be combined to save on postage. Our environment is smoke free. You may return any item within 7 days if not satisfied. To order, you may call us, fill out the order form or email. We pack professionally using only new materials.