Book Description

This book began as an updated version of the 1924 Delteil and Wright catalogue to incorporate Wright's extensive annotations made after publication. Schneiderman's research drew him to the conclusion that a chronological ordering rather than the hitherto accepted subject ordering, was the only viable way to follow the workings of Meryon's mind.While respecting the scholarship of Harold Wright, both in his errata and manuscript notes, examination of the actual proofs referred to has required substantial alterations, and it is in this perspective that this new catalogue has been written. Dr Schneiderman's extensive research covered all the major institutions and several private collections containing Meryon's work.The 103 etchings are listed chronologically, with each entry detailing its title and all known derivations, references to earlier catalogues, medium, size, and fate of the plate. Institutional holdings of each state are listed.There then follows a brief discussion of the subject of the print and any controversies s surrounding it. The author cites relevant comments from Burty's catalogue and any response by Meryon taken from Mes Observations and his letters.The various states, including previously uncatalogued ones, are numbered and listed noting their points of difference, any inscriptions and where the states may be found. Many of Meryon's prints were copied by later artists and where such copies may be deceptive notable differences are listed.