Claudine Bouzonnet Stella, Twenty-nine Engravings From The Roman Missal, Translated Into French (1667)

CLAUDINE BOUZONNET STELLA (Lyon 1636 - Paris 1697)
Twenty-nine engravings for Joseph de Voisin's Roman Missal, translated into French
1667
Engraving and etching on laid paper
13.5 x 8 cm
Each signed: Claudia B. Stella.

King David - Joachim and Anna - The Birth of the Blessed Virgin - The Purification of the Blessed Virgin - The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin - The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin - The Annunciation - The Nativity - The Circumcision - The Epiphany - The Last Supper - The Crucifixion - The Resurrection - The Ascension - The Assumption - All Saints - Pentecost - The Trinity.

Twenty-nine prints designed and engraved by Claudine Bouzonnet Stella for Joseph de Voisin's Roman Missal, translated into French, and published in Parisin 1667. The Missal is published in five volumes and present here four volumes: I, II, IV, and V. Volume III is missing. However, it should be noted that some of the volumes are more richly illustrated than others and that some of the prints are repeated across volumes. Thus, only four pieces from the set are absent: The Entry into Jerusalem, The Garden of Olives, The Body of the Guard, and Corpus Christi, all from volume III. In summary, of the 22 original engravings for Voisin's Missal, we here present 18.

Even in Mariette's time, these prints were already rare, probably due to the Pope's condemnation of the work, which forbade its reading under pain of excommunication - simply because of the French translation and the fact that Voisin intended to celebrate the Mass in French. These works, in the spirit of Port-Royal and Gallicanism y Claudine Bouzonnet Stella, are among the most charming and beautiful French prints of the 17th century.

There are 18 unique pieces and a total of 29 prints, including three repetitions of King David and the Annunciation, as well as five repetitions of All Saints. The books are damaged; however, one copy of each print exists in good condition.