[Bassoon] Lautrec, Toulouse. (1864–1901)
"Pour Toi!" - Original 1893 Sheet Music Lithograph
Pour Toi!..., from Les Vieilles Histoires. Signed on the stone with the artist’s monogram device lower right. First edition of the sheet music edition published in 1893. Lithograph in black on China paper, published by G. Ondet, Paris, printed by Joly, Paris, (W. 6; D. 19; Adr. 20).One of 10 song sheets published by Gustave Ondet in the album "Les Vieilles Histoires" (5 of the illustrations were provided by Lautrec, the balance were done by Henri-Gabriel Ibels, Henri Rachout and others) printed by Joly, Crevel Seccuss, Paris. 270 x 175 mm folded [355 x 275 mm in open piano format]. Edges somewhat chipped, tape reinforcements on verso, otherwise fine and nicely matted and framed to overall 320 x 420 mm.
A fine impression printed after the addition of the text to the stone, the first edition with the music and lyrics printed on the verso (apart from the edition of 100 printed prior to the addition of the text to the stone and also apart from the posthumous edition of 1927 printed without the text).
Henri Gabriel Ibels persuaded the music publisher Gustave Ondet, who lived in the building which housed the Ancourt printing works at 83 Rue de Faubourg Saint-Denis, to have his printed music and lyrics illustrated by well-known artists. In addition to Ibels himself, Ondet asked Lautrec, Henri Rachou and others to design title pages for the song collection Les Vielles Histoires (The Old Tales). These were poems by Jean Goudezki set to popular romance melodies by Désiré Dihau, a bassoonist who was also the subject of Degas's painting "L'orchestre de l'opéra." Lautrec designed the cover for five of the songs in the series, which consisted of ten overall, including “Pour toi!...” (7487)
Art/Sculpture Dance