Matrice originale d’un bois gravé illustrant le Purgatoire de Dante

Reserved

Description

Large matrix of a woodcut used for the illustrated edition by Gustave Doré of the Purgatory of Dante published by Hachette in 1868. This is an illustration of part of Canto IX, reproduced on the serpente of the edition opposite page 48:

"ivi parea ch'ella et io ardesse
E sì l'incendio immaginato cosse
Che convenne che il sonno si rompesse".

[it seemed to me that the eagle and I were on fire, and this fire, although
that my sleep had to be interrupted].

A virtuoso draughtsman, Doré was dependent on the skill of the engravers who interpreted his compositions; he often preferred to draw directly on the blocks of wood he entrusted to them. It seems that there were exceptions to this rule, particularly when Doré collaborated, as here, with Jean Gauchard (1825-1872) and L. Brunier (engraver, 18..-18.. ); the former was responsible for drawing the model on the wooden plate and the latter for engraving it. Doré was particularly fond of these engravers, who took part the same year in the Fables by Jean de La Fontaine, but also to London, a pilgrimage by Blanchard Jerrold in 1872.

The workmanship is so fine that it could be mistaken for metal engraving.

Few original dies have survived, and they are extremely rare.