Saint Francois d'Assise‎ / Camille Quesneville - Le Cantique du Soleil - 1953

A very lovely edition on behalf of the author of the famous hymn written by Francis of Assisi, written in the latter part of his life.

Entirely designed and engraved by the artist-engraver Camille Quesneville, this work contains 9 original etchings, 8 decorations (the same one repeated), and a text, hand engraved, very nicely framed with drawings inspired by medieval manuscripts.

Edition of 165 copies on Marais pure thread paper.

This is one of the 10 deluxe copies (bearing the No. X) containing 2 original drawings by Quesneville (signed), produced for the last plate and the penultimate page of text; as well as a set of engravings and a set of engravings with comments, accompanied by a rejected plate in two stages.

A gorgeous artist’s book.

The Cantique de frère soleil (laudes creaturarum, canticum fratris solis) by Francis of Assisi is considered by Franciscan scholars to be the first poem in ancient Italian, composed in the winter of 1224-1225 at the Abbey of San Damiano, in the Umbrian dialect ("Volgare").

The hymn begins with the words "Laudato si'", which were used in the title of Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si' "on the preservation of the common house",


[Quesneville Camille] - ‎‎Saint Francois d'Assise‎

Le Cantique du Soleil

Paris. Aux Dépens de l'Artiste. 1953.

In leaves under an illustrated cover with flaps. Publisher’s paperboard slipcase.

In excellent condition, 3 plates of the set of images have some light foxing, the rest are in perfect condition. The slipcase is a bit aged and has some spots of friction but is still sound an in good condition.