The Matisse Ulysses

Lot 156
15.10.2021 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
$ 21 250
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 627645
Lot 156 | The Matisse Ulysses
Estimate value
$ 8 000 – 12 000
MATISSE, Henri, (1869-1954) – JOYCE, James (1882-1941). Ulysses. With an introduction by Stuart Gilbert. New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1935.

Limited edition, this copy signed by both Matisse and Joyce, number 826 from a total edition of 1500 copies. “One of the very few American livres de peintres issued before World War II. According to George Macy, who undertook this only American publication of Matisse's illustrations, he asked the artist how many etchings the latter could provide for five thousand dollars. The artist chose to take six subjects from Homer's Odyssey” (Castleman). When asked why he decided to illustrate the Calypso, Aelous, Cyclops, Nausicaa, Circe and Ithaca episodes of the classic poem rather than events from Joyce’s novel, Matisse replied that it was because he had not read Joyce's Ulysses. Understandably, when he heard that, Joyce declined to autograph any further copies and most are missing his signature. C. Duthuit, Henri Matisse, Catalogue raisonné des ouvrages illustrés, no. 6; The American Livre de Peintre, 32; The Artist and the Book, 197. See Riva Castleman, A Century of Artists' Books, pp. 35, 61.

Quarto (304 x 235mm). 6 etchings and 20 reproductions of preliminary drawings by Matisse. Original brown cloth, gilt-decorated on front cover and spine; original slipcase (slipcase corners showing, lower edge panel started to split).
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
01.10.2021 – 15.10.2021
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

More from Creator

Antiquities of Mexico
Antiquities of Mexico
$16 000
Verbiest's world map
Verbiest's world map
$12 000
A previously unknown invoice for furnishings
A previously unknown invoice for furnishings
$2 800
Iliad, in Latin
Iliad, in Latin
$1 500
New York City commissions a painting of Washington
New York City commissions a painting of Washington
$100
The East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere
The East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere
$1 000
Inscriptiones sacrosanctae vetustatis
Inscriptiones sacrosanctae vetustatis
$1 200
Huguan County, Lu’an Prefecture, Shanxi Province
Huguan County, Lu’an Prefecture, Shanxi Province
$1 600

Related terms

?>