La Sainte Bible (vol. 2)
Original title: La Sainte Bible (vol. 2)
kurzbeschreibung
This page comes from Gustave Doré's La Sainte Bible, published in 1866, and combines a steel engraving with an ornamental border and French biblical text. It belongs to a large-format, lavishly produced book edition measuring 43.4 × 33.1 × 6.4 cm.
Description
A symmetrically arranged decorative frame filled with dense floral and geometric ornament governs the layout of the sheet. Below it follows a block of text presenting a Bible chapter in French in a clearly set typeface. The page is recognizable by its red edges and yellowish leaf margin. No figures or objects appear; only the ornamental frame and the text are visible.
Context
This sheet was created in 1866 as part of a two-volume Bible edition illustrated by Gustave Doré. Doré was then regarded as a much-noted illustrator whose dramatic wood engravings and book illustrations enjoyed great esteem. For high-quality prints, steel engraving was often chosen in the nineteenth century because it allowed the finest details and large print runs. The edition addressed a wealthy, educated public and united religious content with artistic ambition.
Impact
The even ornamentation and clear typography give the sheet a calm, solemn mood that invites quiet devotion. The elaborate frame emphasizes the importance of the text and lends the page a representative, craft-oriented character.
Technique
The illustrations were produced as steel engravings: the lines were incised into a steel plate and then printed. In this way, fine details could be reproduced very precisely, and the process was suited to large editions. The text was set separately in letterpress and brought together with the engravings on a single page.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)