L'Histoire de la belle Mélusine de Jean d'Arras

L'Historie de la belle Mélusine de Jean d'Arras – Studer – Lm 2° 17 – Herzog August Bibliothek (Wolfenbüttel, Germany) — Geneva (Switzerland) — August 1478
One of the first illustrated prints in French: an artistic insight into the courtly world of the late Middle Ages and a coveted testimony to early book printing, adorned with 63 wonderful woodcuts

Jean d'Arras (fl.1392–1394) wrote the famous prose novel on behalf of Duc Jean de Berry (1340–1416) and Marie de France (1344–1404)
As a printed edition, the French novel was first published in August 1478 by Geneva's first printer, Adam Steinschaber
The artistic edition was printed with Italian movable type and illuminated with 63 beautifully colored woodcuts

L'Histoire de la belle Mélusine de Jean d'Arras

Lm 2° 17 Herzog August Bibliothek (Wolfenbüttel, Germany)

Description

L'Histoire de la belle Mélusine de Jean d'Arras

Between 1392 and 1394, the bibliophile Duc Jean de Berry (1340–1416) and his sister Marie de France (1344–1404) commissioned Jean d'Arras (fl. 1392–1394) to write a French prose novel about the mythical water fairy Mélusine, who had been the subject of numerous folk legends since the 12th century. In his version, the author transforms the fantastical myths into a genealogical love story set in the courtly world of the 14th century, richly sprinkled with wondrous fable elements. L'Histoire de la belle Mélusine de Jean d'Arras spread in numerous manuscripts and was first published in print in August 1478 by the Geneva printer Adam Steinschaber. It features 63 beautifully colored woodcuts that artfully illuminate the captivating story. For the printing, he used Italian Gothic movable type that he had brought with him from a journey to Italy. This makes the edition one of the earliest illustrated prints in French and a fascinating testimony to the establishment of the art of printing in Europe.

Codicology

Alternative Titles: Die Geschichte der schönen Mélusine von Jean d'Arras
The story of the beautiful Mélusine by Jean d'Arras
Melusine ou la noble histoire de Lusignen
Livre de Melusine en prose
La tres noble et tres merveilleuse hystoire de la tres noble forteresce de Lusignen
Type: Printed book on paper
Size / Format: 384 pages / 26.5 × 19.5 cm
Origin: Switzerland
Date: August 1478
Epochs: Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style: Gothic
Early Prints
Genre: Literature / Poetry
Language: French
Illustrations: 63 coloured woodcuts
Content: L'Histoire de la belle Mélusine by Jean d'Arras
Artist / School: Adam Steinschaber (printer)
Jean d'Arras (author)

Available facsimile editions:

Facsimile Editions

#1 L'Historie de la belle Mélusine de Jean d'Arras

Studer – Geneva, 1978

Publisher: Studer – Geneva, 1978

Limited Edition: 500 copies

Commentary: 1 volume
Language: French

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