‎LUTHEREAU Jean Guillaume Antoine (J.A.L.) (editor) -[ ] Bruxelles Salon 1854 :‎
‎Revue de L'Exposition des Beaux-Arts. 20 Planches Photographiées avec 20 feuilles de Texte in 4°. Bruxelles, Imprimerie Photographique.‎

‎10. Bruxelles, Imprimerie Photographique, in-4°, 30 x 22 cm, cont. half-cloth, title page + 88 pp + 10 lithographs (one coloured) + ii (index). The separately printed index leaf mentions the bankruptcy of the publisher and states that only 11 plates will be present in the publication which halts at page 88. The list of the plates however contains only 10 plates. Periodical issued on the occassion of the Brussels' Salon of 1854. Lutherau (also using as alias Vicomte de Robertval, Jacques Le Normand, Japhet , Un peintre d'Histoire, A.L. etc. - see De Le Court) was editor of the Brussels art periodical ''La Renaissance'' and published well-illustrated Salon critiques. This is his last album (1854) . Here he uses for the first time in Belgium photography to reproduce art works in lithography ( the lithographs are based on photographs). As is the fate of many pioneers he went broke during the production of this album . He returned to his homeland France. (Van der Marck pp. 204 ). This important first step in the use of photography for book illustration is exceedingly rare. No copy outside Belgium (only two Belgian libraries have a copy of this publication). . Apart from an intresting article on the history of the Belgian Salon by Luthereau, the different entries deal with the pictures and sculptures on show. The lithographs are made after photographs mostly by Gross, therefore this periodical offers a very early example of press illustration by means of photography. From the library of Jules De Paepe, with his ex-libris tipped in on the first pastedown. Very rare publication in fine condition.‎

Reference : 5825

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