Félicien-Joseph-Victor Rops (Namur 1833-1898 Paris)

La pudeur de Sodome: Three languid women lying below a bust of a priest; bound in a book containing states 3 and 8 (of 11) of the print related to the drawing (Rouir 830/3 and 830/8)

Details

Félicien-Joseph-Victor Rops (Namur 1833-1898 Paris)
La pudeur de Sodome: Three languid women lying below a bust of a priest; bound in a book containing states 3 and 8 (of 11) of the print related to the drawing (Rouir 830/3 and 830/8)
signed 'FR' and inscribed 'FRONTISPICE' (1), both prints signed
black chalk, pen and black ink, red and blue chalk
12½ x 8 5/8 in. (316 x 220 mm.), in the original edition of Gustave Guiches's La pudeur de Sodome. Frontispice gravé à l'eau-forte par Félicien Rops. Paris, 1888. In a binding by Devauchelles in half-calf with corners and a slip cover, the title printed in red and black. Number 227 on Holland paper of 347 copies, including 22 on Imperial Japan. (Vicaire III, 1154)

Provenance

Jacques Odry, his Ex-libris.

Engraved

With numerous differences by the artist (impressions of the third and eighth states included in the lot).

Lot Essay

La pudeur de Sodome was published by Henri d'Argis, called Henri Guiches in 1888. Rops was recommended to d'Argis by their mutual friend the poet Paul Verlaine. On 27 July 1888 the latter sent a letter to Rops saying 'J'ai le plaisir de vous présenter mon ami Henri d'Argis, auteur d'un roman, Sodome dont j'ai fait la préface et qui serait fier d'avoir un frontispice signé par vous. Il ira vous voir mardi prochain et serait heureux que vous lui fixiez une heure en vue de vous parler un peu longuement... Votre silence lui tiendrait lieu de rendez-vous' (quoted in R.L. Delvoy, Felicien Rops, Brussels, 1985, p. 189).

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