Apocalypse de Saint Jean

Apocalypse de Saint Jean is a complete suite of 13 b/w lithographs (cover + 12 lithographs) on China paper on vélin by Odilon Redon .

Published by A. Vollard, Paris, in 1899, this beautiful collection is edited in 100 copies and is   considered one of the artist’s graphic masterpieces, as well as one of the most beautiful representations of all time of Saint John’s Apocalypse. The whole collection was printed by Blanchard, Paris. 

Original soft cover lithographed by the Symbolist French artist on Japon beige included.

Reference:  Cat. Mellerio , n. 173-185; Cat. Johnson , 104.

Background:

There are many artistic satisfactions matured after years of work and they are crowned by an important event: his second son, Ari, is born. Paternity probably affects the artist's soul to such an extent that he gradually abandons the Blacks to dedicate himself exclusively to color.

Nevertheless, a dramatic note came up beside the positive one: the night of December 1st, 1890, Armand Clavaud , a botanist and a close friend who taught him the theories of Charles Darwin and  the passion for flowers, commits suicide. Redon is devastated and consecrates the album " Les Songes " to his friend. In this album, Redon identifies with the despair that Clavaud must have felt before, during, and after his desperate gesture.

In these years, Redon works incessantly: he creates this latest lithographic series published by Vollard, Apocalypse de Saint Jean .

The Luxembourg Museum bought his artwork Les Yeux clos . He made drawings for tapestries commissioned by Manifactures Gobelins and decorated the Library of the Abbey of Fontfroide. His works are also exhibited in Chicago, New York, and Boston.