Collection De Documents Inédits Sur L'Histoire De France Publiés Par Ordre Du Roi Et Par Les Soins Du Ministre De L'Instruction Publique - Troisième Série Archéologie.
General Note
Plate 21 is misnumbered '22'.
Contents
[Series t.p., add. engr. t.-pl. ('Frontispice'), t.p.] - Notice Sur Les Peintures De L'Église De Saint-Savin - Appendice A(-F) - Explication Des Planches [on 'Frontispice' and pl. I-XLII] - Table Des Matières - [Plates].
Responsibility Note
The added engraved title-plate (or 'Frontispice') and all numbered plates are signed as lithographed by H. Roux and carry the printer's imprint, 'Chromolith. de Engelmann et Graf, Paris'. The title-plate and pl. 40 are signed as drawn by E. Viollet Leduc; pl. 42 is signed as drawn by Denuelle; pl. 28-30 are unsigned by a draughtsman; all others are signed as drawn by Gérard Seguin.
The in-text illustrations numbered I-XXI and the title-page vignette are all unsigned.
References
P. Trahard and P. Josserand, Bibliographie des œuvres de Prosper Mérimée (1929).
M.A. Smith, Prosper Merimée (1974).
On the development of lithography see M. Twyman, Lithography 1800-1850 (1970).
Summary Note
A title variant appears on the added engraved title-plate ('Frontispice'): 'Peintures de l'Eglise De St Savin'.
Merimée begins with a Notice, in five sections: I. Description de l'église; II. Légende de Saint-Savin; III. Histoire de l'abbaye de Saint-Savin; IV. Disposition des peintures dans l'église; V. Observations sur les peintures de Saint-Savin.
The plates with their 'Explication' describe the 11th-century Romanesque wall-paintings in the monastery church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, in Poitou, Vienne, France. The paintings in the porch-tower depict the Revelation of John, the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, and local saints; those in the barrel-vaulted nave depict scenes from the books of Genesis and Exodus; those in the crypt below the apse, the lives of Saints Savinus and Cyprian; that on the east wall, Christ in majesty.
All plates but one are printed in color by chromolithography.
Binding Note
19th-century half red morocco, green cloth-covered boards; gilt-decorated spine lettered 'Peintures De L'Église De Saint Savin'.
Bible
Christian art and symbolism - Saints - Martyrs - Iconography
Mural painting and decoration - Frescoes - Paintings - Church decoration and ornament - Churches - France - Vienne - Poitou - Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe - History - 11th century - Romanesque
Art history - France - 19th century
Pictorial works - Lithographs - Chromolithographs - Colour printing - France - 19th century