The Illustrated Book Cover Illustrations
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THE ILLUSTRATED BOOK COVER ILLUSTRATIONS: A collection of 18 pronouncements by Buddhist sages accompanied by their pictures. n.p., n.d. Manuscript scroll folded into 42 pages, written on leaves of the bodhi tree. Chinese text, beginning with the date wu-shu of Tao kuang [·i.e. 1838 ] Wooden covers. Picture of Buddhist sage Hsu tung on front cover, accompanied by text of his pronouncement on separate leaf on back cover: "A Buddhist priest asked Buddha, 'How did the Buddha attain the most superior way?' Buddha replied, 'Protect the heart from sins; as one shines a mirror by keeping off dust, one can attain enlightenment.'" --i~ ti_ Hsu tung THE ILLUSTRATED BOOK • An Exhibit: March-May 1991 • Compiled by Alice N. Loranth Cleveland Public Library Fine Arts and Special Collections Department PREFACE The Illustrated Book exhibit was assembled to present an overview of the history of book illustration for a general audience. The plan and scope of the exhibit were developed within the confines of available exhibit space on the third floor of Main Library. Materials were selected from the holdings of Special Collections, supplemented by a few titles chosen from the collections of Fine Arts. Selection of materials was further restrained by concern for the physical well-being of very brittle or valuable items. Many rare items were omitted from the exhibit in order to safeguard them from the detrimental effects of an extended exhibit period. Book illustration is a cooperation of word and picture. At the beginning, writing itself was pictorial, as words were expressed through pictorial representation. Later, as text dominated the communication process, illustrations began to serve as visual commentaries on the text. illustrations evolved to highlight, interpret, embellish and visually present meaning, while they delight with aesthetic perceptions. In its best form, the artist/ illustrator is an equal contributing partner in the production of the book. Any exhibit about illustrated books is subject to severe limitations because of the voluminous output through the ages. Only a fragmentary selection of materials can be presented on any given occasion. The Cleveland Public Library's current exhibit is subject-oriented, introducing the subject areas in which the illustrated book played an especially important part. Children's books, contemporary illustrations and high-tech technical illustrations were omitted because the scope of holdings and subject matter demand separate exhibits devoted specifically to these areas. The present exhibit spans the history of the illustrated book from pictographs to the mid-twentieth century and delineates the path as illustration grew in scope, stature, and complexity. If this exhibit succeeds as an introduction and as an impetus to further study, then the purpose of the exhibit will have been well served. Marilyn Cell Mason Director CASEl RELIGION 1. Antichrist. Legend. French Cy commence la vie de Antechrist bien vtile et contemplatiue a veoir & a lyre, auec la prophecie & dietz des douzes Sibilles. Paris: [1510?] A typical black-letter printing-specimen, printed in France, profusely illustrated with woodcuts, including the legend of the Antichrist, and the prophecies of the twelve Sibyls. 2. [Bartolommeo Rinonico, of Pisa], d. ca. 1401 L'alcoran des cordeliers, tant en latin qu'en franc;ois; c'est a dire, Receuil des plus notables bourdes & blasphemes de ceux qui ont ose comparer Sainct Franc;ois a lesus Christ; tire du grand liure des Conformitez, jadis compose par frere Barthelemi de Pise. Nouv. ed. ornee de figures dessinees par B. Picart. 2v. Amsterdam: 1734. Falsely attributed to Bartolommeo Albizzi. ( cf. Catholic encyclopedia.) Originally published in Latin with title: Liber conformitatum vitae S. Francisci ad vitam J. -C. This selection made by Erasmus Alberus, with preface by Martin Luther. Tr. from German into French by Conrad Badius. Illustration by B. Picart. 3. Figures de la Sainte Bible, avec une explication tres-utile sous chaque figure. Troyes: 1723. A French chapbook, with woodcuts depicting the persons mentioned in the Bible. "Chapbooks" were produced for the popular market, and they were sold by travelling vendors throughout the land. They were the forerunners of today's paperback books. 1 4. Imitatio Christi L'irriitation Jesus-Christ. Paris: 1856-58. Reproduction of Paris: 1626 ed. Text within ornamental borders of gold and colors throughout, in the style of late Renaissance manuscripts. Full page illustrations in color depict the life of Christ. Colored chromolithographs by Lemercier; typography by J. Claye. 5. Kristeller, Paul, 1863-1931 Biblia Pauperum. Unicum der Heidelberger Universitats-Bibliothek. Berlin: 1906. A facsimile reproduction of a block-book. Biblia Pauperum, or The Poor Man's Bible, is so-called because printing made it affordable, and because it was intended to appeal to the eyes of the unlearned by its pictures and condensed text. Block-books were very popular in the fifteenth and early sixteenth century. They were made of pages printed from wooden blocks on which both letters and illustrations were carved in relief. The richly illustrated block-books issued for the popular market survived only in very limited numbers. 6. Veen, Otto van, 1556-1629 La doctrine des moevrs tiree de Ia philosophie des Stoiques. Paris: 1646. One hundred engravings illustrate the one hundred discourses conceived as moral allegories for the teaching of correct moral principles, or rules of conduct for the young. Engraved by Pierre Daret de Cazeneuve after Veen's designs for his Horatii Flacii Emblemata, Antwerp, 1607; text by Marin Le Roy de Gomberville. Pub. in 1678 under the title of Theatre moral de la vie humaine. 2 CASE2 COSTUME People in various regions dress differently for many reasons. Explorations, travel, historic curiosity, interest in the differing manners of various cultures, and the growing demand for fashion information promoted the popularity of costume illustrations. 1. Jacquemin, Raphael, 1821-1881 Iconographie generale et methodique du costume civil et militaire du IVe au XIXe siecle (315-1815); collection gravee a l'eau forte d'apres des documents authentiques & inedits par R. Jacquemin. 2v. Paris: [1871 ?] In portfolios. On exhibit: v.2, pl.188: Masques Venitiens. 2. La Mesangere, Pierre de, 1761-1831 Le Bon genre. Trente-neuf aquarelles originales de Harriet, Pasquier, Garbizza, Dutailly, Garnerey et Lante pour Le Bon genre. Preface et presentation des aquarelles, par Charles Martyne et Jacques Megret. Paris: 1930. Issued in portfolio. No. 467 of 510 copies printed. Extracted from Observations sur les modes et les usages de Paris pour servir d'explication aux caricatures publiees sous titre des Bon genre, depuis le commencement de XIXe siecle, issued by La Mesangere in 1817; a collection of plates originally issued in connection with his Journal des dames et des modes, 1801-1817. Plates signed and dated by the qrtists in the print. On exhibit: Pl. no. 18: Les ennuyees de Longchamp, par Garbizza. 3. Panni, Arturo La moda di tulle le epoche. 4v. Milano: [1945-] Each volume consists of 28 hand -colored plates, by Arturo Pannini, issued in portfolio. Edition limited to 190 copies. 3 On exhibit: v. 1-Il settecento: periodo Luigi XV-Luigi XVI, pl. 4: Costurni eleganti; v. 4-Periodo risorgimento e no irnpero: 1~-1878, pl. 10: Costurni eleganti. 4. Sallieth, Mathias de, 1749-1791 Verzameling van verschillende gekleede mans en vrouwen standen; ter oefening van jonge schilders en liefhebbers. Naar het Ieven geteekend dood de Perkois en Prins. Amsterdam: 1836. Drawn after life by Perkois and Prins. Engraved in copper by Mathias de Sallieth. Hand-colored . On exhibit: Untitled pictures of a street vendor and a fishwife. CASE3 HISTORY 1. Allom, Thomas, 1804-1872 The Chinese empire: historical and descriptive. London: 1858-1859. Beautifully executed fine steel-engravings, from original sketches illustrate the manners and customs of the Chinese, and the scenery, architecture, and social life of China. 2. Benzoni, Girolamo, 1519-1570 La historia del mondo nuovo. Venice: 1572. Second ed. of Benzoni's account of the New World under Spanish rule from 1541 to 1556. His accounts "give much light as to the conditions both of the Europeans and natives:'-(Winsor) The fine woodcuts illustrating the text show scenes from the life of the native Indians; some scenes depict the cruelty of the Spaniards toward the Indians. 3. Cavalieri, Giovanni Battista de, 1525?-1601 Romanorum imperatorum effigies. Rome: 1583. From the library of Prince Liechtenstein. 4 First edition of Cavalieri's portraits of the Roman Emperors from Julius Caesar to Rudolph II, with laudatory texts collected from contemporary sources by Fr. Thomas Treterus. The fine engravings are executed after contemporary busts and portraits and show interesting contrasts between the classical, medieval, and Renaissance styles. 4. Labrune, Jean de Lebens-Beschreibung des ... Carl des V. Hertzogen zu Lothringen und Bar auch Generalissimi uber die Kayserliche Armeen. Franckfurt am Mayn: 1691. Five books in one. With engraved frontispiece and portrait of Charles V. Duke of Lorraine (1643-1690). Biography of the famous commander of the imperial army in the 17th century wars against the Turks. From the library of Prince of Liechtenstein. 5. Lotichius, Johann Peter, 1598-1669 Historia augusta imperatorum Romanorum a C. Julio Caesare usque ad Josephum, imperatorem augustissimum. Amstelaedami: 1710. Title-page in red and black. Added engraved title-page. Consists of 165 biographical sketches and engraved portraits of Roman emperors and emperors of the Holy Roman Empire from Julius Caesar to Joseph, son of Leopold. Notes by H.C. Hennin. Bound with this is Henrici Hamelow Jc. Imperatores romani a Julio Caesare. Editio secunda. Amstelaedami: 1710. 6. Lyall, Robert, 1790-1831 The character of the Russians, and a detailed history of Moscow. London: 1823. Illustrated with numerous engravings in black-and-white, and in color. 5 CASE4 TRAVEL AND DISCOVERY 1. Carr, Denis, ed. Sydney Parkinson, artist of Cook's Endeavour voyage.