brian cassidy bookselle

34.
[Catholicism]. MORIN, Julia
MADONNA ALBUM [Cover Title]
[Original Scrapbook Album]
[Massachusetts], [ca. 1914]
Oblong folio. Commercial string-tied album. Cloth covered, limp card
boards. Gilt lettering to front. 50 leaves holding a single portrait
photograph and 194 clipped artwork reproductions within hand-cut
corner mounts at rectos and versos. Each page with ornate outlining
and calligraphic titling in white album pen. Loose tissue guards
between leaves intact. Mild handling wear. One clipped element perished.
Overall clean, well preserved. Very good or better in a custom
archival clamshell box.
A hand-accented gift scrapbook of religious iconography created and
presented by Julia Morin to her brother, Reverend William Morin upon
the occasion of his ordination. Populated with reproductions of the
masterworks of Christian art by Bellini, Gaddi, Titian, Correggio,
Raphael, Del Sarto, Renni, Rubens, Rembrandt, Hoffman, among others,
each page is carefully engrossed with exquisite titles and borders.
Plates likely clipped from THE PERRY MAGAZINE FOR SCHOOL AND HOME, a
Boston-based periodical of the era which reproduced fine works of art
for use in education. Several instances of hand-colored covering-over
an otherwise nude baby Jesus add a note of reverential modesty. Julia's
inscription to the cover identifies her as a 1914 graduate of
St. Ann's Convent, presumably of Readville, MA. Historical references
cite William as having ministered to congregations near Boston,
Fitchburg, and North Adams. A touching and lovingly-assembled folk
book.
-1500-
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