{"product_id":"le-pater-alphonse-muchas-symbolist-masterpiece-edition","title":"LE PATER Alphonse Mucha's Symbolist Masterpiece Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003eBy 1899, \u003cstrong\u003eAlphonse Mucha\u003c\/strong\u003e was the most recognizable artist of Art Nouveau graphics \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eand\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e the most celebrated illustrator in Paris. So Mucha insisted upon creating a deeply personal work, a magnificent, oversized deluxe limited edition, \u003cem\u003eLe Pater\u003c\/em\u003e. For the remainder of his life he considered this his masterpiece. This Symbolist story features a female deity protecting humankind, sophisticated occult themes and mystical illustrations. And this edition from \u003cem\u003eCentury Guild\u003c\/em\u003e is one of the most beautifully produced books I've seen: oversized, quarter leather, gilt embossed cover and gilt page edges... and packed with amazing work, from never-before-seen studies and paintings, each magnificent page of \u003cem\u003eLe Pater\u003c\/em\u003e is a work of art unto itself.\n\nThe images from \u003cem\u003eLe Pater\u003c\/em\u003e are mentioned in numerous Mucha books as his masterpieces and are universally acknowledged alongside his massive \u003cem\u003eSlav Epic\u003c\/em\u003e paintings as his finest work. However, as a result of Mucha's forced limitation of the publication of this masterwork, the rarity of the lithographs means that most books are limited to mentioning the images in the text and leaving the reader to wonder what these \"lost masterpieces\" might look like.\n\nUnlike the advertising art that had dominated Mucha's output since his \"discovery\" by Sarah Bernhardt in late 1894, Mucha described this series of images to a New York reporter as \"the thing I have put my soul into.\" (\u003cem\u003eThe Sun\u003c\/em\u003e newspaper, 5 January, 1900)\n\nMucha's previous artworks were lithographed on various media ranging from paper to silk, in multiple formats; Mucha's publisher Champenois saw to it that Mucha was the most printed artist in Paris in the late 1890s. Mucha's concern, understandably, was likely that the imagery of his spiritual work would be capitalized upon. By 1899, he had earned the right to demand that the \u003cem\u003eLe Pater\u003c\/em\u003e images would be produced in an edition of only 510 copies, and subsequently saw the plates destroyed--ensuring the work would never be reprinted for mass-market purposes!\n\nFrom the fine press specialty publisher, The Century Guild, comes this exquisitely produced new edition. Three styles alternate here: one page of text, with finely detailed initial (preliminary studies) drawings and a unique, Art Nouveau border--each one different. Next we have a black and white painting, of the same epic quality as the \u003cem\u003eSlav Epic\u003c\/em\u003e work. And third we have an ornate, mystical page of symbolist icons, also carrying the story forward but each one able to stand alone -- as fine a decorative drawing as anything he'd every done for the commercial world.\n\nWe are featuring one of these on our Spring 2020 catalog. Superb, full color reproduction. Huge 12x16 inch size. This is THE definitive edition of this rare, little-seen masterpiece.\n\nPublished in ultra-high resolution on fine cotton paper with advanced color correction, deluxe varnishes, and gilt highlighting to create a boutique keepsake volume. This version is also greatly expanded in its academic research with the addition of important and rare historical photos and a thorough decoding of the Judeo-Christian and Masonic Symbolism hidden in the artworks. It also examines the entire Symbolist Movement, of which this is a culminating work, with examples by other artists and an essay on this important and fascinating genre of artworks.\n\nIncludes a picture and a quote from Mucha and commentary by publisher and editor \u003cstrong\u003eThomas Negovan\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"vendor-unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59643939258654,"sku":"ALPMEH","price":179.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0999\/0684\/7006\/files\/alpmeh-alphonse-mucha-pater-negovan.jpg?v=1784523105","url":"https:\/\/shop.budsartbooks.com\/products\/le-pater-alphonse-muchas-symbolist-masterpiece-edition","provider":"Bud's Art Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}