LATENAY (Gaston de) & HOMÈRE.

LATENAY (Gaston de) & HOMÈRE.

Nausikaa. Paris, Piazza, 1899. Large in-4 paperback, blue cover illustrated in color, in original portfolio with flaps illustrated with a cold-engraved vignette and gilded title (slightly faded), in modern flap folder and slipcase (V. Déro). Spine of original cover restored. 22 full-page plates, 22 borders and 24 color-engraved vignettes, lettrines and culs-de-lampe, all by Gaston de Latenay. Slight transfers to colophon pages. Minor spotting on the 2 pages following the title. Limited edition of 400 copies; no. 179 of 330 on vellum. Episode from the Odyssey. The translator is none other than Leconte de Lisle, leader of the Parnassian poets. Many of his writings are inspired by Greek civilization, characterized by formal and visual perfection to the detriment of emotional beauty. The hieratic, static style of the poetry is particularly enhanced here by the delicate colors and formal linear style of Gaston de Latenay's Art Nouveau illustrations.