1908 Missel de la Vie de N.-S. Jésus-Christ | Illustrations by James Tissot

Missel de la Vie de N.-S. Jésus-Christ (Missal of the Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ). Printed by Maison A. Mame et Fils, Tours, France. Published 1908, based on the Mame Catalog and printing matrix. French Language. 

Unlike a traditional Roman Missal, which would feature dense Latin sections or side-by-side bilingual translations, this edition was designed primarily as a high-art devotional guide. 

Bound in full brown Morocco leather, with five raised bands at the spine and golden flowers in the compartments, a densely packed fanfare pastiche gold filigree pattern covering the front and back covers in scroll borders, delicate blooming rosettes, and trailing vines to capture the aesthetic of the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI. Angels and a crown are at the center, gold dentelle work on the board edges and interior turn-ins, green moiré silk endpapers, 20 color illustrations under labeled guards, and borderwork around the page content. 

Tissot was one of the most successful secular artists of the Victorian era, famous for painting society in Paris and London. He had a vision in a church, which led him to reaffirm his faith and dedicate his time to illustrating the life of Christ. His watercolors toured internationally and focused on realism, cinematic perspectives, and a story-driven approach. 

122 mm W x 167 mm H. 248 pages. 

Condition: Wear to hinges, some light rubbing to corners. Good to Very Good Condition.

List of the 20 colored illustrations featured in the book: 

• Jésus retrouvé dans le Temple (Jesus Found in the Temple)
• La Visitation (The Visitation)
• Saint Joseph cherche un gîte à Bethléem (Saint Joseph Seeks a Lodging in Bethlehem)
• L’Adoration des Rois Mages (The Adoration of the Magi / Three Kings)
• Jésus présenté au Temple (Jesus Presented in the Temple)
• Jésus et sa Mère à la fontaine (Jesus and His Mother at the Fountain / Well)
• Notre-Seigneur Jésus-Christ (Our Lord Jesus Christ)
• Jeunesse de Jésus (The Youth of Jesus)
• Baptême de Jésus (The Baptism of Jesus)
• Jésus s’assied près de la mer (Jesus Sits by the Sea)
• Le Lépreux de Capharnaüm (The Leper of Capernaum)
• Le Pharisien et le Publicain (The Pharisee and the Publican / Tax Collector)
• Résurrection de Lazare (The Raising of Lazarus)
• Le cortège dans les rues de Jérusalem (The Procession through the Streets of Jerusalem)
• Le premier reniement de Saint Pierre (The First Denial of Saint Peter)
• La flagellation de face (The Scourging from the Front)
• Scala Sancta (The Holy Stairs / Sacred Steps)
• Le pardon du bon larron (The Forgiveness of the Good Thief)
• La Descente de Croix (The Descent from the Cross)
• La Résurrection (The Resurrection)