Faust (1908)

 

Illustrated by Willy Pogány

 

 

 

 

On the left, we show a rare copy of Geothe's Faust - illustrated

by Willy Pogány - produced by Hutchinson & Co. (London)

in 1908. The copy held in the Collection is one of a limited

number of the 1st Edition that includes 31 colour plates by

Pogány (typically, 30 plates only were included). This example

retains the original decoratively blind- and gilt-stamped

red cloth cover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the right, we show Pogány's elaborately decorated

Title Page to Hayward's translation of Faust.

 

 

In his Foreward to Faust (1908), Ingpen provides the following comments on Pogány's illustrative treatment of Goethe's

work:

His pictures, like the great drama they illustrate, are to a great extent emblematical; his

schemes of colour reflect the particular emotional atmosphere of the scenes they represent,

and a subtle meaning appears to be suggested by the merest details. Mr Pogány's pictures

reveal a deeper symbolism than has not been reached by others who have attempted to

illustrate Faust. That picture of Faust and Marguerite in the Garden, with its delicate

evening mist, is a true lover's dream. Again, turn to Faust and Marguerite in the

Summer-house, and note the gay joyousness of the colour; note also the sunlight through

the trees in the scene Under the Lime Tree, and the cold blue tone of despair in the last

illustration - all veritable colour-poems. Although Pogány is thoroughly familiar with the

Faust legend, and all that concerns it, he has viewed the subject with the eyes of one

making a venture into a new land of promise, and this may account for the freshness and

originality of his compositions.

Legends related to the life of a medieval character known as Dr Faustus are thought to have formed the basis of Goethe's

Faust. The first history of that character was published in 1587 and it is thought he lived some time before the mid-1500s.

Reference is made in the Foreword to Faust by Roger Ingpen of a citation relating to Dr Faust in a history of the Thirty

Years War thus:

... when the enemy entered Saxony, a detachment found quarters at Breda, a village on

the Elbe. The commander was speedily informed by the magistrate of the village that he

was occupying the identical house in which Faust had met his horrible death, and that the

walls were still besprinkled with his blood. On confronting this ghastly evidence, the

soldiers stood for awhile aghast, and then fled from the place in horror.

Goethe's Faust has been translated into English many times, with the earliest version though to be that published

anonymously in 1821. The famous English poet, Shelley, also attempted a translation, but his work remained unfinished

due to his untimely death in 1822. The version completed by Abraham Hayward was first published privately in 1831

and two years later, commercially through Moxon. Enlarged editions followed and the success of his translation gave

Hayward an assured position in society and consequently, he became a regular contributor to the leading reviews,

including The Edinburgh Review.

 

 

Our Greeting Cards and Reproduction Prints

 

 

For connoisseurs of Pogány's work, we have prepared sets of 31 Greeting Cards displaying each of his colour images for Faust and on the left, we show an example of how these Greeting Cards appear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Code: WP F CS(31)
Price: US$155.00

 

When presented on Greeting Cards, these images are prepared as tipped-on plates - in hommage to the hand-crafted

approach typical of prestige illustrated publications produced in the early decades of the 20th Century. Each card is

hand-finished, with the image presented on Ivory card stock with an accompanying envelope. On the rear of each card

we also present some information about Willy Pogány and the profiled illustration. We have left the interior of the

cards blank so that you may write your own personal message.

 

Each of our large format reproductions are prepared with archival quality materials and processes to ensure many

years of enjoyment. In addition, our reproductions are accompanied by explanatory material relating to Willy Pogány

and the profiled illustration.

 

To purchase, simply click on the appropriate "Add to Cart" button and you will be taken through to our Shopping Cart

secured through PayPal. Multiple purchases will be consolidated by that feature and shipping and handling costs to any

destination in the world are accommodated by our flat-rate fee of US$20 for every US$200 worth of purchases.

 

Of course, should you wish to discuss some customised options, we welcome your contact on any matter through

ThePeople@SpiritoftheAges.com.

 

In the meantime, enjoy perusing these wonderful examples of the art of Willy Pogány.

 

 

The colour illustrations

 

Frontispiece

Faust and Margaret

in the Garden

Prologue for the Theatre

Prologue in Heaven

Night

Faust and the Spirit

of the Earth

 

 

Before the Gate

Before the Gate

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C1 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C2 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C3 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C4 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Before the Gate

Under the Lime Tree

Before the Gate

Faust, Wagner and the Poodle

Faust's Study

Mephistopheles appears

to Faust in his Study

Faust's Study - Scene

with the Student

Mephistopheles and

the Student

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C5 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C6 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C7 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C8 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Cellar in Leipzig

In Auerbach's Cellar

Witch's Kitchen

Faust and the Magic Mirror

Witch's Kitchen

The Witch's Kitchen

Witch's Kitchen

Faust drinks the Magic Potion

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C9 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C10 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C11 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C12 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

The Street

Faust meets Margaret

in the Street

Evening

Margaret adorns herself

with the Jewels

The Neighbour's House

Mephistopheles in the

Neighbour's House

A Summer-House

Faust and Margaret in

the Summer-House

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C13 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C14 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C15 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C16 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Forest and Cavern

Faust and Mephistopheles

in the Cavern

Margaret's Room

Margaret at the

Spinning Wheel

Martha's Garden

Faust and Margaret

in Martha's Garden

 

 

At the Well

Margaret at the Well

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C17 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C18 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C19 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C20 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Zwinger

Margaret supplicating

the Mater Dolorosa

Night: Street before

Margaret's Door

Faust and Valentine

Cathedral

The Evil Spirit tempting

Margaret in the Cathedral

May-Day Night

Witches descending

the Brocken

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C21 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C22 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C23 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C24 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

May-Day Night

The Witch's Revel

 

May-Day Night

On the Hartz Mountains

May-Day Night's Dream, or,

Oberon and Titania's Golden

 Wedding-Feast

The Young Witch

May-Day Night's Dream, or,

Oberon and Titania's Golden

 Wedding-Feast

At Oberon and Titania's

Golden Wedding Feast

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C25 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C26 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C27 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C28 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 
 

Night: A Common

Faust and Mephistopheles

on the Common

Dungeon

Faust visits Margaret

in the Dungeon

Dungeon

Faust disappears with

Mephistopheles

 

 

  

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C29 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C30 12x18
Price: US$60.00

 

 

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: WP F C31 12x18
Price: US$60.00