Antar, an Arabic heroic poem. Paris, Piazza, 1898. 1... Lot 283

Antar, an Arabic heroic poem. Paris, Piazza, 1898. 1 volume of text and 1 volume of sequels, that is to say 2 volumes small in-folio uniformly bound in brown half-maroquin with corners, smooth mosaic spine, gilt fillet framing the boards, gilt head, covers preserved (Champs-Stroobants). Limited edition of 300 copies; one of the 10 on special Arches vellum illustrated with a beautiful title in an engraved frame, 125 pages of text each decorated with a drawing (each first page of each chapter is in a different frame with its own typography), 5 out-of-text illustrations and numerous vignettes, headbands and tailpieces all in colors by E. Dinet, and containing in addition, a suite in colors on japon as well as a suite in black on chine. Superb copy in orientalist binding of the time. Absolutely magnificent work. Dinet's illustrations give life to the legend of Antar: the triumph of good over evil. The author spent a large part of his life in the Magreb. He depicts the people of the desert and their culture as few artists have done before him. All of his illustrations were drawn from life in contact with the inhabitants of the Sahara during the many years Dinet spent with them in the mysterious solitude of this region. One will find scenes of fights, dances, hunts, festivals, caravans etc... Dinet (1861-1929) discovered Algeria in 1883 and converted to Islam in 1913. Orientalist painter he will settle permanently in Algeria in Bou Saâda ""the City of happiness of living"" in 1905.