LE ROMAN DE LA MOMIE by Théophile Gautier

Barbier led a group nicknamed by Vogue “The Knights of the Bracelet” formed from artists from the Ecole des Beaux Arts and including Monvel, Brissaud, Iribe, Lepape, and Martin. He first exhibited in 1911 at the age of 29 where he gained many commissions to design costumes and illustrate works, fashion in particular. George Barbier (1882-1932) was one of the greatest French artists of the early 20th century. Theophile Gauthier’s work was an “Orientalist” novel centered on the discovery of a mummy of a female pharaoh in the Valley of Kings. after graduating joined Marius-Michel’s studio, eventually taking over a month before the master’s death in 1925” (Duncan and de Bartha, Art Nouveau and Art Deco Bookbinding. Crette was “one of the Ecole Estienne’s most brilliant pupils. The two volumes are in blue crushed levant. The work was specially bound by George Crette, with his gilt stamped name inside the text volume. There are 36 color illustrations and 2 additional suites (one in full color and one in outline). The work was limited to 1091 copies, however this is one of only three with 13 original ink and watercolor illustrations from Barbier, and is copy number one.

It features a double suite of plates printed on “sur vieux Japon” and Chine paper. The work is Theophile Gautier’s Le Roman de la Momie.

During this time, he became a journalist for Le Moniteur universel, then the editorship of influential review L'Artiste in 1856.This is an exceptional two volume work with original illustrations from Geroge Barbier. His prestige was confirmed by his role as director of Revue de Paris from 1851-1856. He was a celebrated abandonnée of the Romantic Ballet, writing several scenarios, the most famous of which is Giselle.

He began writing poetry as early as 1826 but the majority of his life was spent as a contributor to various journals, mainly for La Presse, which also gave him the opportunity for foreign travel and meeting many influential contacts in high society and in the world of the arts, which inspired many of his writings including Voyage en Espagne (1843), Trésors d'Art de la Russie (1858), and Voyage en Russie (1867). In the 1830 Revolution, he chose to stay with friends in the Doyenné district of Paris, living a rather pleasant bohemian life. Pierre Jules Théophile Gautier was a French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist, and literary critic.

LE ROMAN DE LA MOMIE by Théophile Gautier