Anne Bachelier
Suite of Nine Original Mixed-Media Illustrations for
The Princess of Wax—A Cruel Tale
Inspired by the Marchesa Casati

To benefit the expansion of The Casati Archives, an extremely rare offering is being made here for the serious collector of Casatiana and the highest-calibre of contemporary Surrealist art.

Artist: Anne Bachelier (b. 1949, France). Learn more at 'The Artist' section here.

Year: 2003

Description: An exquisite suite of nine (9) original mixed-media illustrations on paper (approx. 16 x 11.5 inches or 40.64 x 29.21 cm); each tipped-in by Bachelier onto larger folio sheets (approx. 27 X 19 inches or 68.58 x 48.26 cm), these being folded in the centre; upon one side of each folio sheet, the artist has attractively calligraphied the full English-language text of the story; the text being further embellished by fantastical mixed-media spot illustrations.

Provenance: In 2003, the fairy tale The Princess of Wax—A Cruel Tale (or La Princesse de cire—Un conte cruel) with a dual-language English/French text) was published as a deluxe limited edition book to excellent critical acclaim. Inspired by the extravagant artist muse and icon, the Marchesa Luisa Casati, the deliciously dark and decadent story was written by Scot D. Ryersson and Michael Orlando Yaccarino, authors of Infinite Variety: The Life and Legend of the Marchesa Casati, the worldwide, best-selling biography of her life. Bachelier prepared the nine illustrations offered here personally for the authors. The works have never been published in any format or exhibited anywhere. More important, the illustrations vary considerably from those appearing in the published version of the fairy tale. Reported on in Vanity Fair magazine, The Princess of Wax is also discussed in several domestic and international editions of Infinite Variety.

Pricing: Available upon request.

Note: Additional works by Bachelier, some related to The Princess of Wax, available as well.

Viewing: Images from the illustration suite can be e-mailed upon request. Additionally, private viewing of the suite is available in select areas of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut (U.S.A.).

For more information
The Casati Archives
Facsimile/U.S.A.: (+1) 201.488.2866 or
E-Mail: marchesacasati@yahoo.com
Serious inquiries only please.

Critical Praise for
The Princess of Wax—A Cruel Tale

‘In this Edgar Allan Poe-esque nightmare, Venice and La Casati have never been so enchanting and decadent. Bachelier’s illustrations, so surreal and so wonderfully rich in detail, are the perfect visualization of an intriguing, never-ending journey through eccentricity, obsession, love, cruelty, glamour and destiny.’
—Grazia D’Annunzio, Special Projects Editor, Vogue Italia

‘An innovative, dark fairy tale.’—Gallery Guide

‘A sumptuous limited-edition volume.’—WHERE New York

‘A beautiful and marvelously produced book and quite a wonderful fairy tale.’
—Lady Moorea Black, Granddaughter of the Marchesa Luisa Casati

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