Charles Gillot / Eugène Grasset - Histoire des quatre fils Aymon, [Reliure mosaïquée de Charles Meunier][Art Nouveau] - 1883

The most beautiful illustrated edition of this text inspired by a medieval legend, bound in a superb mosaicked cover signed by Charles Meunier (1865-1948).

Executed in half-maroquin with deep green corners, gilded edges along the sides and corners, rounded back decorated with a beautiful mosaic-style design consisting of a helmet, a sword, and a frieze of mosaic flowers in ochre, red, and brown leather. Title piece in violet leather with gilded initials, the binder's name stamped at the foot. Gilded head. Covers and spine preserved.

Meunier was an important bookbinder of the Belle Époque. His particularity and talent lay in his way of decorating bindings. He is considered the apostle of the so-called emblematic binding.

A very rare and valuable book, considered a jewel of the Art Nouveau illustrated book and a masterpiece by Eugène Grasset. It is decorated on each page with color compositions created using the Gillotage process, which was just invented by Charles Gillot.

With the greatest freedom, Grasset creates a rich illustration composed of decorated frames that is not without evoking, in its architecture, medieval manuscripts. The illustration, which covers the 242 pages of the book, does not hesitate to invade the text, in complete rupture with the illustrated book of that time, which was most often stifled within the constraints of vignette artists from the 18th century, so popular among bibliophile societies.

This famous work is the first book printed using the new engraving process known as 'gillotage,' which was invented by Firmin Gillot and perfected by his son Charles. This technique involves creating a relief on zinc through acids, from a drawing traced in greasy ink, transforming it into a cliché from which proofs can then be printed on a typographic press.

Old epic poem The History of the Four Sons of Aymon recounts the adventures of four brothers who, persecuted by Charlemagne and abandoned by their father, are forced to seek refuge in the Ardennes forest, and are saved from an inevitable death by the supernatural intelligence of a horse...

Vicaire IV, Manual of the 19th-century book lover, p. 342 - Osterwalder I, Dictionary of illustrators, p. 450 - Bénézit V, Dictionary of painters, p. 3 (for Charles Gillot).

[Art Nouveau] Charles Gillot / Eugène Grasset
History of the four sons of Aymon, very noble and very brave knights.
Paris, H. Launette, 1883
in-4 (28.5 x 23 cm), 224 pages. 8 figures. (complete)

State: Edges and cuttings rubbed, corners knocked. Well-made binding, perfectly executed. Slightly yellowed paper, without foxing. Overall in good condition.