Phillip Medhurst

281.1/402-rechab-and-baanah-bring-the-head-of-ish-bosheth-2-samuel-4:8-drawing-by-james-tissot-at-the-john-rylands-library-file-created-by-phillip-medhurst:

281.2/402-rechab-and-baanah-bring-the-head-of-ish-bosheth-2-samuel-4:8-gouache-on-board-by-louis-de-parys-after-james-tissot-jewish-museum-new-york-presented-by-phillip-medhurst:

The paintings were reproduced in “La Sainte Bible : Ancien Testament . . . / Compositions par J.-James Tissot” with preface by A. D. Sertillanges, introduction by M. de Brunoff and the French version of L. J. Lemaistre de Saci. (Sertillanges, Antonin Gilbert 1863-1948; Le Maistre de Sacy, Isaac-Louis, 1613-1684) 2 vols.: illus., plates: 4to. 40 plates, 360 illustrations to text, by James Tissot (Tissot, Jacques-Joseph, French, 1836-1902). Paris: M. de Brunoff & Cie, 1904.

The edition contains 360 mounted colour, b/w, and duo-tone illustrations in the text and 40 plates in three states, sepia-tone, partly hand-coloured, and finished coloured state. The plates are protected with captioned tissue-guards. The paper size is 15 3/4 x 13 ins; image size varies (c 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 ins).

Illustration was completed after Tissot’s death in 1902 by Henri Bellery-Desfontaines, Auguste François Gorguet, Charles Hoffbauer, Louis van Parys, Michel Simonidy and Georges Bertin Scott.

Of the 561 copies printed, the John Rylands Library (Manchester) copy is an “exemplaire unique”. As well as the triple set of the large plates in various states, and a series of proofs before letters of the illustrations appearing in the text, it contains a water colour drawing by Tissot (“Joseph presents his father Jacob to Pharaoh”), his original pen and ink sketches for this work, and an autograph letter by him.

Files created by Phillip Medhurst: Tissot in Brunoff at the John Rylands