Heliogravure, engraving and drypoint, circa 1925. 465x595 mm; 18 1/4x23 1/2 inches, narrow to thread (full ?) margins. Artist's proof of a planche refusée from Miserere. Signed in ink, lower right, and inscribed "epreuve primitive" in pencil, lower left. Printed by Lacourière, Paris. Commissioned by Vollard, Paris. A superb, richly-inked impression of this large, extremely scarce print.
According to Wofsy, there are approximately 30 unpublished plates of Miserere subjects (he illustrates only a proof after cancellation for this particular subject). Miserere was ultimately published, with 58 different aquatint and heliogravure plates, in 1948 in a total edition of 425, after Rouault had labored more than 30 years on the project (from 1916 ro 1948).
Rouault used this subject again, in the same-titled color aquatint from circa 1938 (see Wofsy 285).
We have not found another impression of this planche refusée at auction in the past 25 years. Wofsy 195.
