1 / 6
two pages of paper with drawings on them on a tablean old document with a stamp on it sitting on a tablea drawing of a man and a woman on a piece of paperdrawing of a man in a suit and tie holding a scarfa piece of paper with a drawing on itthree drawings of a teddy bear and a teddy bear on a wall
Maître Bruce ROELENS

165 - Joséphin PELADAN (1858–1914, occultist, author writing under…
See original version (French)

Estimate €150 - €200
Description
Joséphin PELADAN (1858–1914, occultist, author writing under the pseudonym Sar Mérodack, eccentric figure, Grand Master of the Rosicrucians) / A significant illustration on the frontispiece (opening illustration) of his work *Femmes honnêtes*, which was published under the pseudonym Marquis de Valognes by Ed. Monnier in Paris in 1888 (this work, promoted under the auspices of Barbey d’Aurevilly and Arsène Houssaye, is a scandalous collection of ‘cruel’ short stories that condemn the decline of Latin civilisation through 12 female characters, all of whom are demonic ‘apostles’) – In 1884, the illustrator chosen for this frontispiece and the illustrations was Jean-Désiré RINGEL (1847–1916, engraver, medallist and sculptor), presumably recommended by Arsène Houssaye, editor of the luxurious magazine *L’Artiste*, which published his engravings – This collection comes from Péladan’s archives and contains the originals of the frontispiece: a large ink wash enhanced with white gouache (32.5 x 49 cm, rough edges on the sides), a tracing of this pencil drawing (same dimensions, rough edges and a tear), which enabled Ringel to present this design in a third drawing, mirror-reversed, in preparation for the etching (same dimensions, rough edges and small areas missing) – 2 ink wash drawings with signed handwritten annotations intended for Péladan (14 x 21 and 20 x 25 cm; working documents, hence showing signs of use) – the original etching printed from the drawing (16.5 x 25.5 cm) – The book was indeed published in 1888 by Monnier, but with a frontispiece by Félicien Rops and 12 illustrations by Ferdinand Bac – It is clear why Ringel’s drawings were not published, thanks to the two summonses from bailiffs preserved in this file: one ordering Péladan on 4 July 1884 to pay 300 francs to Ringel, the other ordering him to appear before the Commercial Court on 30 August 1884 for non-payment. Expert appraisal: Yannick LEFEBVRE.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale CHRONO ARTWORKS (lithographs, drawings, watercolours, etc.)
Auction location
Auction time 09/13/2026 at 8:00 PM
ID: 88530017
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like