Renée Mauperin; Ten Etchings, Complete Set for the Illustrations to the Novel by Edmond and Jules de Goncourt 1882
Paris: G. Charpentier et Cie, 1882-1884. The complete set of ten (10) etchings on cream wove paper illustrating the same-titled novel by Edmond and Jules de Goncourt. Each etching approximately 9 3/4 x 6 3/8 inches (250 x 163mm) (sheets), each with full margins. Some sheets exhibit light discoloration along the extreme edges, well outside of the image areas. Tone is consistent with age. Each impression is dark and richly inked, with the fine details printing clearly. A lovely example of this highly collectible set by Tissot. [Wentworth 62-71].
These dark and inky impressions are such both in tone and theme, visually and emotionally. The classic novel by Goncourt, originally published in 1864, is a cautionary tale of an emancipated young woman, the youngest of three siblings, who seeks to double-cross her conniving older brother. Renée Mauperin exposes the plan of her opportunistic brother Henri, who has embarked upon a love triangle between his bride, and his future mother in law, in order to secure a significant dowry. Once Henri has the dowry he is challenged to a duel and loses more than just the money. Renée, left to live with the consequences of her meddling, slowly withers, the victim of grief and regret, and eventually dies of a broken heart.
Tissot's rich illustrations, attention to detail, and strange interest in such a dark subject may mirror themes of longing and regret in his own life. Kathleen Newton, who was Tissot's long-time model, companion and muse, was a ravishingly beautiful Irishwoman, and the subject of scores of Tissot's masterwork oils. Newton, a divorcée, lived in secret with Tissot in London for more than six years, until her untimely death, at the age of only 28. Newton, who was in steadily declining health, found herself unable to cope with the grief it caused Tissot to watch her die slowly. She took her own life with laudanum to protect him from having to experience her prolonged demise. He is said to have never recovered, and may have found peace in this project, which deals so deeply with guilt and loss, as well as the theme of feeling indirectly responsible for the death of a loved one. RENÉE MAUPERIN: RENÉE AND REVERCHON SWIMMING IN THE SEINE (FRONTISPIECE) Renee Mauperin: Renee Hugging her Father as She Comes in to Breakfast (Beraldi 54) RENÉE MAUPERIN: DENOISEL READING IN THE GARDEN, RENÉE APPROACHING Renee Sitting at the Piano, Crying Denoisel and Henri Mauperin in the Latter’s Rooms (B57) HENRI MAUPERIN WOUNDED AFTER THE DUEL WITH BOISJORAND DE VILLACOURT Renee Fainting after Hearing of her Brother’s Death in the Duel M. Mauperin Sitting in a Public Garden in Paris Renee and Her Father Sitting in the Porch of the Church at Morimond M. and Mme. Mauperin in Egypt, 1882.
Item number: 61
Price: $5,500.00
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