LE PATER. Complete unbound volume with folio covers. 1899.
16x12 inches, 40½x30½ cm. F. Champenois, Paris. Condition A-: slight wear to edges and wrappers; some inside pages reinforced with archival tape along inner edge; staining to covers. Hand-numbered 198.
Numbered 198 of 400 copies on papier à la forme du Marais (510 total). A masterpiece of Art Nouveau that Mucha regarded as one of his most successful and significant works. "It was meant to be Mucha's message to future generations about the progress of mankind. Through the archetypal Christian prayer, he wished to present the way for man to reach the Divine Ideal, the highest state in the spiritual world. Here, Mucha analyzed each of the seven verses in a set of three pages (each printed on one side of a leaf). The first of each set in colour shows an original verse in Latin and French, framed in a border sumptuously decorated with flowers and a symbolic female figure. The second, also in colour, is Mucha's own text interpreting the verse with initial letter and floral decoration. The third monochromatic page, printed in photogravure, contains a full-page allegorical drawing, which depicts his philosophical response to the verse" (Mucha Foundation). Each of the seven verses contain 3 full-page graphic plates in addition to an illustrated title page and final leaf. Without leather binding. Mucha / Art Nouveau 72.
