IHe was considered the greatest bibliophile of his time, heir and great collector of rare and old manuscripts and printed matter (like the Very Rich Hours of the Duke of Berryto name just one). But the Duke of Aumale was also attentive to modern luxury publishing, and a member of several bibliophilic societies whose aim was to create beautiful illustrated works. The Book Cabinet at the Château de Chantilly is exploring this aspect of the Duke of Aumale’s collections until March 10. “He was a very complete bibliophilerecalls Marie-Pierre Dion, general curator of libraries. It is not because he had the most extraordinary manuscripts from the Middle Ages that he was not interested in contemporary Books. »
The exhibition “ Contemporary bibliophily. Treasures from the Cabinet of Books » focuses on a very particular moment in the history of the book. “At the end of the 19th century, there was a sort of break between the common book, published in 10,000 or even 100,000 copies, and the bibliophile book printed in small numbers and designed to be a beautiful, rare and precious object. . On the one hand, therefore, the current edition, which could be luxury, and the bibliophile edition which is an artisanal edition often based on particular components: handmade paper often with extraordinary watermarks, layout and printing composed by hand, illustrations modeled on prints, exceptional binding and a desire to highlight particular texts. »
A tribute to the author of a literary masterpiece rather than an object to read
This distinction between the beautiful book and the industrial book appears in France with Gustave Doré, the first artist to create large rare books. “He had great difficulty convincing publishers and was forced to finance his first works himself, notably Dante’s Divine Comedy, published in 1860. Success came later and he was able to work with great publishers like Hachette to offer bibliophile books designed more to be a tribute to the author of a literary masterpiece than an object to actually read. »
This idea of a beautiful book “which is exhibited, which is offered and which is opposed to the current book, also appears in England, in the Victorian era, with Walter Crane and William Morris. The Duke of Aumale is in exile there and collects a certain number of works in his library, all the more willingly since they were generally gifts from Queen Victoria or her husband Prince Albert. »
Member of numerous societies
The Duke of Aumale has also been part, with the latter, of the Philobiblon Society since 1853. “whose members most often collected old works, but who were nonetheless open to modernity. » He even took charge in 1862. In 1881, the Duke of Aumale was also named honorary president of the Société des Amis des Livres, created in 1874 and devoted mainly to illustrated editions of contemporary literature. “As industrial production does not offer so-called modern bibliophiles the possibility of finding beautiful works, they come together in society and publish their own books, in limited editions corresponding to the number of members. » One of the first books published by the Society of Friends of Books will also be a work by the Duke of Aumale, the Zouaves and hunters on foot (1896), with wood engravings by Gustave Morel.
At the same time, the Duke of Aumale is at the head of the society of French bibliophiles, created in 1820, which is focused exclusively on old books, “the high bibliophily. He divided his time between these two companies which operated according to the same principle: meals, meetings, discussions… Some published facsimiles of ancient books and the others modern books. »
Over time, other companies will be created. Like Les Amis du Livre Contemporain in 1903 or Les Cent Bibliophiles in 1895. “The Duke of Aumale was an honorary member and died in 1897. The last production of Les Cent Bibliophiles arrived in Chantilly after his death. It was Baudelaire’s Fleurs du Mal, started during the Duke’s lifetime. Baudelaire was a maligned author, some of his poems were banned for insulting morals. Against all expectations, the curators of the time accepted it into the collections. »
Several bibliophilic companies continue to regularly deposit in Chantilly the works they publish. Allowing the collections of the Duke of Aumale to continue to be perpetually enriched.
Chantilly (60) Condé Museum, castle. Exhibition “Contemporary Bibliophilia. Treasures of the Cabinet of Books.” Until March 10, 2025. Every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Tuesday. Prices: €18 and €14.50 (1-day ticket for the castle, park, large stables, temporary exhibitions). Information: musee-conde.fr
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