Carved Stall Heads at Vitteaux, Côte d'Or, Antique Print, 1851

This is an original antique chromolithograph, printed in sepia, tan and buff, lettered "Fin du XVe Siècle, STALLES EN BOIS SCULPTÉ, à l'Eglise de Vitteaux. (Côte d'Or)". The plate shows five carved heads, each on its own rectangular block, set out two, one and two: a man in a ribbed cap and draped hood putting out his tongue; a profile in a hood with a turned back brim; a frontal hooded face pulling a grimace with its tongue out; a profile in a cap with a knot of cloth, mouth open; and a hooded face with a small bird perched on top, tongue showing. The carving is drawn with strong modeling and shadow, and the faces are frankly comic.

The caption translates as "end of the fifteenth century, stalls in carved wood, in the church of Vitteaux (Côte d'Or)." The running head reads "AMEUBLEMENT RELIGIEUX". The credits read "Ed. de Goncourt del.", "Chromolith. Lemercier, r. de Seine 57, Paris." and "H. Moulin lith.", with "F. Séré direxit" beneath the caption.

Le Moyen Âge et la Renaissance was published in Paris in five volumes between 1848 and 1851. Paul Lacroix, who also wrote as the Bibliophile Jacob, edited the text, and Ferdinand Séré directed the illustrations, which is why his name and the word direxit stand beneath every plate. The work surveys the manners, crafts, sciences and arts of medieval and Renaissance Europe, and its chromolithographed plates record objects held around 1850 in churches, museums and private collections. This plate is from the fourth volume, dated 1851, and has a companion plate showing five other heads from the same stalls.

Hung with its companion, the ten faces make an engaging group.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.