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Evelyn Paul Collection

 

Throughout this page you will have the opportunity to consider more than 70 fabulous vintage images from

Evelyn Paul's contributions to Stories from Dante, The Romance of Tristram of Lyones and La beale Isoude, Dante's

La Vita Nuova, Aucassin & Nicolete and Clair de Lune and Other Troubadour Romances.

 

We have developed a range of Giftware that includes images reproduced from the 1st Edition plates in our collection

to ensure the most accurate form, line and colour possible. We have utilised a high definition capture and reproduction

technique for the images - in contrast to the low definition representation necessary for this website. The illustrations

are available as cards, infants' clothing, T-shirts and unmatted, matted or framed prints (8x6", 10x8", 12x10", 15x10" and

30 x 20" images sizes). Pricing starts at US$4 for single Gift Cards (US$18 for select packs of 6) and 10 x 8" prints

(double-matted and framed) begin at US$60. Further details on those reproduction images are available at the Giftware

section of this site.

 

Should you wish to discuss an order, please contact us at ThePeople@SpiritoftheAges.com referencing your request with

the Stock Code of the plate, or plates in question and a brief description (and rest assured, we do accept payment through

PayPal or Direct Bank Deposit).

 

In the meantime, enjoy browsing our selection of genuine vintage and antique plates.

 


The Art of Evelyn Paul

 

Evelyn Paul (1870-1945) was best known for her work as an illuminator. She also contributed illustrations - accompanying her illumination work -

influences by a variety of styles including Gothic Revival, Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts. Significantly, the Pre-Raphaelite artist, Dante Gabriel

Rossetti, has been identified as one of Paul's major influences. Her most famous work appeared in titles including Stories from Dante, The Romance

of Tristram of Lyones and La beale Isoude, Dante's La Vita Nuova, Aucassin & Nicolete and Clair de Lune and Other Troubadour Romances.

 


 

Stories from Dante (1913)

A rare copy of Stories from Dante published by George G Harrap & Company in 1911 - an edition that was printed by Turnbull & Spears in the Scottish city of Edinburgh.

This copy shows the original decoratively gilt and black stamped suede finish cover.

 

 

 

16 colour images with accompanying descriptive text

 

Beatrice

(by Dante Gabriel Rossetti)

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 1

Dante in the Streets of Florence

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 2

The Salutation of Beatrice

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 3

 

 

The Entrance to Hell

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 4

The Seventh Circle

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 5

Virgil in Rome

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 6

The Court of Frederick II

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 7

The Carroccio

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 8

 

Attack on the Donati by Guido Cavalcanti

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 9

The Meeting in Paradise

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 10

Sordello's Tribute to the dead Eglamor

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 11

Giotto the Painter

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 12

The Heaven of Venus

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 13

The Battle of Roncesvalles

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 14

Dominic and the Moorish Bandits

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 15

St Francis of Assisi tending Lepers

 

 

Provenance: An American Collector

 

Code: EP SD 16

 


 

The Romance of Tristram of Lyones and La beale Isoude (1913)

A rare copy of The Romance of Tristram of Lyones and La Beale Isoude produced by George G Harrap & Company Limited in 1913 - an edition that was printed at the Camperfield Press in the English town of Saint Albans.

This copy shows the original decorative Evelyn Paul design to the cover inspired by illuminated Celtic manuscripts from the early Medieval period, such as The Book of Kells. Paul draws from Celtic illuminations for inspiration through the tale and in doing so, provides a visual feast.

 

 

 

 

Evelyn Paul's illumination - in the early medieval Celtic style - for the title page of The Romance of Tristram of Lyones and La beale Isoude.

 
 
   

Evelyn Paul's illumination of the introduction to the tale.

The introduction reads as follows:

Here beginneth the Romance of

Sir Tristram de Lyones and La beale Isoude

Lordys that be in mirth and play

Merry and blithe as summer's day

Leave and listen while I sing

'Tis nought of elf or færy

Nor eke of bird upon the spray

But most of magic love lonying.

 

One of Paul's highly ornamented monotone illustration to the tale - this introducing the element related to the Quest for the Holy Grail.

The text reads as follows:

They prayed to Christ with much fervour

Their inward foes to Quell:

Sans fear they rode in high ardour

Good issue to compel.

Glory to Holy Trinity

That be of most avail!

Honour to Heaven's sweet Ladye

That prays for us, Salin Fayle

To Joseph, Hight Arimathie,

And to the Holy Greal!

   

Two of the numerous marginal illustrations designed by Paul to accompany this tale

The Romance of Tristram of Lyones and La beale Isoude - as illustrated by Evelyn Paul - draws on the Celtic French tradition for this tale of

tragically mismatched love. The earliest example of the tale may be found in the 12th Century work of the French poets Thomas of Britain

and Béroul. Later version of the tale were largely based on the 13th Century work, Prose Tristram. Elements of both influences are reflect

in the work illustrated by Paul, including the portions of the tale establishing Tristram as one of King Arthur's knights that are questing for

the Holy Grail - an element drawn from Prose Tristram.

 

13 colour images available

 

 

Tristram and Isoude depicted within an

elaborate illuminated frame

Sir Murrogh and Sir Tristram

Sir Tramtrist and Sir Palomides

 
 

La beale Isoude and Sir Tristram

Sir Tristram and La beale Isoude

in the woodland

Sir Tristram kneeled before La beale Isoude

 
 

Sir Tristram and the harp

La beale Isoude, Dame Brangwene

and Sir Tristram

Sir Tristram smitten down by a

fiery beam

 
 

Sir Tristram followed no path

La beale Isoude weeping and mourning

Sir Tristram lies mortally wounded

by King Mark

 
     

Sir Tristram and La beale Isoude lie dead

 

   

 


 

La Vita Nuova (1916)

A rare copy of La Vita Nuova produced by George Harrap & Co. (London) in 1916.

This copy shows the original decorative Evelyn Paul design to the cover inspired by polychromatic Medieval manuscripts.

Translated by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, this edition includes illustrations and exquisite decorations in the style of Medieval illuminated manuscripts by Evelyn Paul.

 

 

 

Evelyn Paul's illumination of the introduction to La Vita Nuova is presented in a style reminiscent of Medieval illuminated manuscripts.

The introduction reads as follows:

In that part of the book of my memory before the which is little that can be read, there is a rubric, saying, Incipit vita nova. Here beginneth the New Life.

Under such rubric I find written many things; among the the words which I propose to copy into this little book; if not all of them, at the least their substance.

 

 

La Vita Nuova - translated as The New Life in English - is one of the works composed by the great Florentine poet known as Dante Alighieri

(1265-1321). It tells the story of Dante's own unrequited love for Bice di Folco Portinari (the Beatrice of La Vita Nuova) - a woman who

captured Dante's heart while she was 9 and he was 12, died at the age of 25 and was to be, even posthumously, Dante's greatest inspiration.

Although Dante, himself, was married to Gemma di Manetto Donati in a union arranged by their respective families, Beatrice was the love

of his life - after her death, Dante withdrew into intense study and poetic composition. His other works include: Commedia (The Divine

Comedy); Convivio (The Banquet); and De volgari eloquentia (On the Eloquence of Vernacular). Dante epitomised the Renaissance scholar -

quite apart from his poetic fame, which is such that he is known as il Sommo Poeta (the Supreme Poet) - he also held qualifications in

medicine and pharmacy and was a prominent politician who ended his life in exile from his native Florence.

 

This version of La Vita Nuova is based on a translation provided by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882). Rossetti, like his poetic namesake, was

an individual of many talents, being a poet, illustrator, painter and translator. Such talents supported his intuitive artistic interests that

contributed to him becoming among the central artists associated with the Pre-Raphaelite movement.

 

16 colour images available

 

 

Code: LVN EP 2

 

 

The tale is exquisitely revealed as Evelyn Paul takes us through her illustrative interpretation of La Vita Nuova

 

 

Evelyn Paul displays her own Art Nouveau and Pre-Raphaelite influences through the images of La Vita Nuova

 

 

Evelyn Paul's images are presented both unadorned and surrounded by stylistically complementary marginal decoration

   

 

The architectural features apparent in both the illustrations and marginal decorations would have also been influenced by the Gothic Revival

   

 

Influences from artwork arising from the early Italian Renaissance are also apparent - a fitting inclusion for a tale

written by a Floretine poet in the late 13th Century 

 

     
 

Evelyn Paul's gorgeous final image of Beatrice

 


 

Aucassin & Nicolete (1917)

 

A rare copy of Aucassin & Nicolete produced by George Harrap & Co. (London) in 1917.

This copy shows the original leather binding with exquisite Art Nouveau influences, including reinforcing metal studs and a bas-relief illustration inset between blind stamped title lettering.

Translated by Michael West, this edition includes illustrations by Main R Bocher, music score by Horace Mansion and profuse decorations by Evelyn Paul.

Main R Bocher (1891-1977) is most famous for his fashion design. He remained in Paris after serving with the armed forces during World War I and later became editor of French Vogue. In 1930, he established the Mainbocher salon and his simple, subtle couture designs continued to influence modern fashion for the best part of the following half century. Mainbocher's creations graced Wallis Warfield Simpson at her marriage to the Duke of Windsor.

 

 

Evelyn Paul's illumination of West's introduction prepares the reader for the tale in the most exquisite fashion.

West introduces the chantefable thus:

This is of the love of Aucassin and Nicolete.

It is the fairest story that was ever told.

It was made in French language, but I have set it into English because it is so sweet and because it telleth of Love - for God loveth them that Love each other.

C'est d'Aucasin et de Nicolete

Illumination by Evelyn Paul

 

 

 

 

 

Aucassin & Nicolete represents the sole surviving example of a chantefable - a sung story - from what was once a popular literary genre.

 

The major characters of the tale are: Garin, Count of Beaucaire; his son, Aucassin; and Nicolete, a Saracen slave girl.

 

From the chanson de geste, the author borrows the themes of Christian knighthood and feudal warfare and combines themes from the courtly

romance traditions such as the well known plot device of star-crossed love between a young Christian and Saracen. The tale establishes the

desperate desire for Aucassin and Nicolete to marry, only for their wishes to be undermined by the determination of Garin who forbids their

union and imprisons the lovers. In time, both escape and experience a series of romantic and farcical adventures before Nicolete is revealed to

be a Saracen princess of the noblest ancestry and the tale is resolved.

 

Some critics have characterised the story as something of a satire on epic, romance or saint's life genres, but often the tale seems interested only

in comedy for comedy's sake - as a pleasing entertainment for those who read the story or who may see it performed. The verse portions - which

were meant to be sung - may be considered more skillfully constructed than the prose sections, but it remains a delightful distraction.

 

13 colour images available

The illustrations contributed by Bocher display an unmistakable combination of Couture and Art Nouveau influences

Bocher's images are framed beautifully by marginal decoration provided by Evelyn Paul 

 
 
 
   
 

 

Clair de Lune and Other Troubadour Romances (1921)

 

A rare copy of Clair de Lune and Other Troubadour Romances produced by George G Harrap & Co. (London) in 1921.

This copy shows the original decoratively gilt-stamped brown cloth cover.

Translated by Michael West, this edition includes illustrations and extensive marginal decoration by Evelyn Paul and music by Alfred Mereer.

 

 

 

Evelyn Paul's illumination for the title page, showing the tales to include: "Lady Linette"; "Clair de Lune"; "Our Lady of the Buttercups"; "The Romance of Little Peter"; "Cerise"; "Sir Hugh"' ; "The Quest of the Saint Graal"; "The Lonely Isle"; "Lilith"; "The Six Saints of Healing"; "Belle Alise"; and "Lai de Lisette".

Elaborately illuminated title page to

Clair de Lune and Other Troubadour Romances

by Evelyn Paul

 

 

 

 

West's translation - as illuminated by Paul - reads as follows:

This is a story of the Love of God.

The Quest of the Saint Graal

This is the story of Sir Renand and his lady Yvain which was told me by Brother Peter as we were polishing the cups in the vestment room of the House of our Lady of the Seven Joys.

For it happened long ago,

Where nor when no man doth know.

In this land there dwelt a night

True of heart, of armour bright.

Fair of mien, and great of main.

And a lady, sweet Yvain.

Trettis, fettis, debonair.

Maiden of the Golden Hair.

Help me. Blessed Madeleine.

So to tell this tale again

Well and fair

West's translation - as illuminated by Paul - reads as follows:

Brother Peter told this. He serves the sick in our monastery.

The Six Saints of Healing

He said "Have you ever heared the rhyme of the Saints Guerisseurs. My mother used to sing it over me when I was ill. It is very beautiful.

Il y a six Saints Guerisseurs.

Saint Houarniaale pour le Peur,

Hubert pour morsures de chiens,

Pour maux detête Saint Livertin,

Saint Meen pour la folie,

Mamert pour melancholie.

Mais Saint. La bin nous inyouquons

Pour toute éspèce d'afflictions.

Evelyn Paul's illuminated introduction to

the tale of "The Quest of the Saint Graal"

 

Evelyn Paul's illuminated introduction to

the tale of "The Six Saints of Healing"

 

 

 

16 colour images available

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 

 


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Last modified: 06/29/08