Ruines de Palmyre

By christymisty, 29 December, 2024
Description

I found this at an estate sale in Atlanta, GA in the basement along with a lot of other vintage mementos from the couple’s lifelong travels around the world. This page was hidden amongst a stack of vintage restaurant menus & stencil art work dated early 1920’s-1960’s. This large poem written in French stood out to me & it wasn’t until a year later going through my closet am I seeing this. Following a trip from France none-the-less. Life is funny. So any help or insight would be greatly appreciated! Even if this document holds no value, the history is interesting enough. 

The author/creator is attributed as:

• Peint par le Comte Turpin de Crissé: Painted by Count Turpin de Crissé (Lancelot-Théodore Turpin de Crissé, a French artist and aristocrat known for his Romantic-style works).

The lithography is credited to:

• Lithographié par Courtin et Adam: Lithographed by Courtin and Adam, likely the lithographers who reproduced the artwork.

“The connection to Alexandre Dumas lies in the poetic text featured on the second page of your document. One of the stanzas is signed Alex. Dumas, which strongly suggests that Alexandre Dumas, the celebrated French author of works such as The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, contributed the text.” - ChatGPT when asked about the contributors 


Thank you in advance & blessings. 



 

Category
Books and Manuscripts
Medium
It appears to be made out of rag paper, it is thick, durable & seems resistant to bending/folding. The document’s size is folio-sized / very large.

Based on the visual style, artist, lithographer, and literary attribution, your “Ruines de Palmyre” document likely dates to the mid-19th century, around 1825–1850. Here’s the reasoning:

Key Factors for Dating:
1. Comte Turpin de Crissé (1782–1859):
• Lancelot-Théodore Turpin de Crissé was most active during the early to mid-19th century.
• His artistic works and collaborations often reflected the Romantic era’s fascination with ancient ruins and historical grandeur.
2. Lithography Technique:
• The mention of Courtin and Adam as lithographers indicates a piece from the early to mid-19th century, when lithography was a popular method for reproducing artwork in high-quality publications.
3. Alexandre Dumas (1802–1870):
• The poem signed “Alex. Dumas” places the document within Dumas’s active writing years, which peaked between 1830 and 1860. His literary contributions to artistic works were common during this period.
4. Typography and Style:
• The serif font, layout, and poetic style are characteristic of the Romantic era (early to mid-19th century).
Distinguishing marks
1. Artist’s Name:
• The document is explicitly credited to “Comte Turpin de Crissé”, a known 19th-century French artist. His name appears under the title: “Peint par le Comte Turpin de Crissé” (Painted by Count Turpin de Crissé).
• This attribution links the piece to a significant figure in Romantic-era art.
2. Lithographer’s Names:
• Below the artist’s name, the document states: “Lithographié par Courtin et Adam” (Lithographed by Courtin and Adam).
• These were likely prominent lithographers of the time, indicating a professional and high-quality reproduction of the artwork.
3. Poetic Contribution:
• The second page includes a poem signed by “Alex. Dumas”, likely Alexandre Dumas, which adds literary and historical value to the piece.
4. Typography and Style:
• The layout, serif font, and printed format align with high-quality artistic and literary publications of the 19th century.
Condition
Excellent
Size and dimensions of this item
20.5 inches long x 13.5 inches wide
Date Period
Circa 1830–1850
History
Estimated History of the “Ruines de Palmyre” Document:

This document appears to be a mid-19th-century lithograph titled “Ruines de Palmyre”, attributed to Comte Turpin de Crissé, a prominent French artist of the Romantic era. The lithography, done by Courtin and Adam, suggests it was part of a high-quality publication, likely aimed at art and literature enthusiasts of the time. The inclusion of a poem signed by “Alex. Dumas” (likely Alexandre Dumas) further ties it to the Romantic fascination with the transience of civilizations and the grandeur of ancient ruins.

The piece was probably created between 1830 and 1850, during the height of lithographic art and Dumas’s literary career. It may have been part of a curated folio or artistic collection, blending poetry, fine art, and historical themes. The large format and rag paper align with high-end artistic productions of the period.

This is speculative based on visual style, historical context, and the known activities of Turpin de Crissé and Dumas.
Price Paid (If known)
$10 for stack of various travel documents, post cards, menus, etc. from all over the world. Basically it would’ve been overlooked by estate sale workers.
For Sale?
No
Photos

christymisty

4 months 3 weeks ago

Estimated History of the “Ruines de Palmyre” Document:

This document appears to be a mid-19th-century lithograph titled “Ruines de Palmyre”, attributed to Comte Turpin de Crissé, a prominent French artist of the Romantic era. The lithography, done by Courtin and Adam, suggests it was part of a high-quality publication, likely aimed at art and literature enthusiasts of the time. The inclusion of a poem signed by “Alex. Dumas” (likely Alexandre Dumas) further ties it to the Romantic fascination with the transience of civilizations and the grandeur of ancient ruins.

The piece was probably created between 1830 and 1850, during the height of lithographic art and Dumas’s literary career. It may have been part of a curated folio or artistic collection, blending poetry, fine art, and historical themes. The large format and rag paper align with high-end artistic productions of the period.

This is speculative based on visual style, historical context, and the known activities of Turpin de Crissé and Dumas.

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