Paul Verlaine was one of the greatest of the French poets from the 'fin de si cle': five of the poems in Fetes Galantes were set to music by Claude Debussy. The illustrator of the book, Pierre Laprade was trained at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. A post-impressionist he was influenced by Cezanne and also by 18th century French artists. Fetes Galantes is considered one of his most notable works.
The striking binding of this copy is in keeping with the contents of the book. The binder is noted as PL Martin, presumably Pierre-Lucien Martin, one of the most respected fine book binders of the post World War II period in France. He trained at the Ecole Estienne in Paris, worked in a number of binding establishments before establishing his own business in 1940. Immediately after World War II he produced what he considered his first modern binding and went on to win prizes for his work and exhibited extensively. Martin was considered a binder of great vitality and produced an enormous variety of designs.
The binding for Fetes Galantes features many coloured leather onlays of flowers around a central figure of Pierrot in a landscape, also bordered with floral onlays. The dark blue morocco has gilt borders and the design is repeated on the back board. The design work continues inside with end papers of green watered silk and fly leaves of marbled paper. The binding itself is protected with a chemise or loose quarter leather cover and a slipcase.
Click on the image to add a tag or press ESC to cancel
Verlaine, Paul, 1844-1896, Fetes galantes. State Library of South Australia, accessed 12/12/2025, https://digital.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/nodes/view/2174
