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22 Engravings by Various Artists for the Illustrated Invitations of the Société des Eclectiques Issued Between 1883 and 1900

Eclectiques, Société des

Paris. 1872–1903
A remarkabel series of engraved invitations on uncut sheets by various artists for the dinners of the Société des Eclectiques.

Founded in 1872 by artists, engravers and poets, the Société des Eclectiques was a dining society that met one Monday per month for over thirty years. For each occasion an invitation was engraved by one of the members. The twenty-two examples presented here, all (save one) on large paper and likely in early states, represent a remarkable survival and a scarce resource.

Artists represented include Van Gogh's patron Dr. Gachet (1874?), Aglaus Bouvenne, Frederic Regamey, Letouneau, G. Sauvage, Charles Ficht, etc.

'Ces rencontres amicales ressemblaient, d’après les comptes rendus de séances, plus à des assemblées de potaches anticléricaux et irrévérencieux qu’autre chose, malgré la présence d’Émile Bin qui devint maire de Montmartre après Clemenceau, puis fut destitué pour avoir peint un portrait du général Boulanger ... Dans cette joyeuse compagnie, il y avait le sculpteur Guillemin, le libraire Voisin, le journaliste écrivain Ernest d’Hervilly, Charles Asselineau que l’on ne présente pas, le plus grand illustrateur de son temps Félix Régamey … '. (Bernard Vassor).

Further details of the engravings are available on request.

[See Bernard Vassor's 'Le Docteur Gachet et la Société des Éclectiques'].
[22 leaves of various paper stocks]. 4to. (c.220 x 280 mm. Etchings and engravings for the most part on laid paper recto only in early states and on untrimmed sheets, the majority tretaining their deckle edges.
#48690

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