George Barbier’s ..Cantiques – Beautifully Bound Volume with Original Signed Opaque Painting and 17 Original Printed Illustrations

This stunning volume is George Barbier’s Dix-Sept Dessins sur le Cantique des Cantiques. The work was published in Paris by La Belle Edition (Bernouard) in 1914. This is one of 25 copies with the extra suite of black and white plates. There were only 240 of this edition ever published.

Of particular note is the original opaque painting in the front of the work. This has a signature of George Barbier and is bound to the front of the volume. The work featured 17 designs by Barbier, 13 in full page, printed in black and gold with the additional suite of the illustrations without color. The volume was bound in pink morocco by René Kieffer with gilt vignette on both covers. It has morocco chemise and slipcase. The original wrappers are bound in.

George Barbier (1882-1932) was one of the greatest French artists of the early 20th century. He was one of the most celebrate art decor artists and especially excelled in illustrating the human figure. He first exhibited in 1911 at the age of 29 where he gained many commissions to design costumes and illustrate works, fashion in particular. Barbier led a group nicknamed by Vogue “The Knights of the Bracelet” formed from artists from the Ecole des Beaux Arts and including Monvel, Brissaud, Iribe, Lepape, and Martin. Beyond his illustrations, Barbier created jewelry, glass and wallpaper design.