La Feuille a L'Envers

Ed. Monnier et Co.. Very Good. 1885. First Edition. Hardcover. 109, (2) pages; Bound in light blue buckram with gilt lettering at spine with former owners initials at base "1885 / B.R.J."; pink marbled endpapers; original colored illustrated wrappers bound in; 10 full page plates with hand coloring, 10 illustrated initials (some colored), and 10 tailpiece illustrations; top edges gilt. Quite nice condition, but for two abrasions to original front wrapper. Auguste François-Marie Gorguet (1862 - 1927) was a lithographer, painter, illustrator; student of Gérôme, Boulanger and Bonnat; he collaborated with several magazines such as Chat-Noir, Figaro Illustré, Revue Illustrée, L'Illustration etc. Under the name of Auguste François Gorguet, he exhibited at the Salon from 1885 and his work was awards in Chicago in 1892 and a silver medal at the Universal Exhibition of 1900. His work as a painter (toiles, panels, ceilings) is in the vein of the symbolist movement soon to be overtaken by the Art Nouveau. He was quickly brought into contact with the opera world, illustrating many posters, including Theodora reproduced in the magazine Les Maîtres de l'affiche. Joseph Pierre Fau (1808-1883) was a student of the Parisian painter Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps. He made his debut in 1831 at the Paris Salon and continued exhibiting there until 1877. He had sufficient wealth to build up an extensive art collection. PROVENANCE: B.R.J. -- Benny R. Jones, noted book collector. .