Leconte de Lisle / Raphaël Freida - Poèmes Barbares - 1914

A superb work and a superb copy of Raphaël Freida's masterwork. Printed in 301 copies, this one is among the 160 in-8 on Van Gelder vellum.

The poems are richly illustrated with 100 splendid compositions by Freida, 19 hors-texte (including the frontispiece) and 81 headpieces for the sonnets. Etched by E. Pennequin, printed in intaglio by A. Porcaboeuf.

The binding is half-morocco with red corners, the spine with four raised bands, gilt-lettered as well as the top edge. In near-perfect condition, with only a few minor defects at the headcap corners.

Raphaël Freida, born on May 26, 1877, is an artist who illustrated a few works, not many, but striking. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon and then in Paris in the workshop of Jean-Paul Laurens. He began as a cartonnier for the Felix Gaudin stained-glass factory in Paris and drew the stained-glass window for the new St Honoré d’Eylau Church in Paris (1909).
At the Salon des Artistes of 1907, he presents the drawing Les Rois mages for which he receives an honorable mention. He then works for luxury editions as an illustrator, before being called to active service in 1914, the publication date of this art book. Talvart & Place (XII, 81) indicate that the book went on sale in December 1918. The war has thus also had effects on publishing itself.