[Travel Journal of Italy] - An Italian Love Letter from Nabis Painter Maurice Denis - Antique Book

Author: Maurice Denis (1870–1943) Title: **[Travel Journal of Italy]** (Carnets de voyage en Italie 1921–1922) Imprint: Paris, J. Beltrand. Technique: Letterpress printing, 84 pages. Features 34 color woodcut illustrations, including 1 title page illustration, 4 full-page plates, and 29 smaller interior illustrations. Housed in a cream-colored, gold-stamped paper dust jacket with loose pages, presented in a wood-engraved, embossed paperboard slipcase secured with ribbon. The pages exhibit yellowing and spotting. This volume is one of 175 copies, numbered II, and was reserved for the artist Maurice Denis's wife. Date: 1925 Dimensions: Folio (30.5 x 22 cm) (BO 067) About the Work: Amidst the fervent artistic currents of Impressionism in the latter half of the 19th century and the rise of 20th-century modern art, French artist Maurice Denis (1870–1943) played a pivotal role. As a member of Les Nabis, he deeply explored Symbolism while also drawing inspiration from Neoclassicism. His artistic theories became a cornerstone for later movements such as Cubism, Fauvism, and abstract art. After World War I, he founded the Ateliers d’Art Sacré (Sacred Art Workshops), dedicating himself to the revival of religious art and creating murals for numerous churches. Maurice Denis was born in Granville, a small coastal town in Normandy, France. He moved to the outskirts of Paris in his childhood and was an only child. He showed an early passion for art and faith, recording his thoughts and impressions of church ceremonies in his diary from the age of thirteen. It is also known that he frequently visited the Louvre. At fifteen, he vowed to become a Christian artist, dedicated to depicting the miracles of faith. Initially, he studied philosophy at a renowned secondary school, but in 1888, he withdrew to attend the School of Fine Arts, where he met Paul Sérusier (1864–1927) and Pierre Bonnard (1867–1947), with whom he shared his ideas on painting. Subsequently, through Bonnard, he became acquainted with Jean-Édouard Vuillard (1868–1940), Paul Ranson (1864–1909), and others, forming the Nabis group. They championed idealism, opposing positivism, naturalism, and materialism. During this period, he was profoundly influenced by Paul Gauguin's (1848–1903) Symbolist works, incorporating mystical elements into his own art, which gradually shaped his mature style. In 1890, an article he published in "Art et Critique" sparked a new conceptual shift. In it, he stated: "A painting, whether it depicts a warhorse, a female nude, or some other exotic subject, is essentially a flat surface adorned with colors arranged in a certain order." While this idea was not entirely original, his articulation captured the attention of artists, laying the foundation for Modernism. From 1900 onwards, Maurice Denis developed an interest in Italian Renaissance painting, undertaking frequent travels to Italy, with a growing emphasis on religious themes. This **[Travel Journal of Italy]** serves as a record of his sojourns in Italy between 1921 and 1922, interwoven with his watercolor sketches of the Italian scenery. In 1925, Maurice Denis commissioned the printmaker Jacques Beltrand (1874–1977) and his brothers to faithfully reproduce the texture and colors of his watercolors using their masterful color woodcut techniques, thus bringing his travel journal to fruition. The printmaker Beltrand hailed from a family of printmakers and was skilled in both woodcut and wood engraving techniques. His exceptional artistry earned him the admiration of Auguste-Louis Lepère (1849–1918), a prominent artist who championed innovative wood engraving in France from the 19th century. Beltrand enjoyed creating works with vibrant colors or subtle tonal gradations, exploring subjects ranging from landscapes and cityscapes to portraits and scenes of daily life, with a particular focus on religious themes. It was precisely his expertise in woodcut that Maurice Denis leveraged to transform his watercolor works into exquisite woodcut prints. * For any detailed inquiries, please feel free to send a message to the designer. * The items in this design gallery primarily feature Western antiques, vintage jewelry and home decor, and old European prints and books. As these are antique pieces, they inevitably bear the marks of time. However, they are thoughtfully curated and arranged with personal taste, contributing to a unique sense of lifestyle and aesthetic. Those who are concerned about the condition of vintage items are advised to consider carefully before purchasing.