The sixth centenary of Dante's death has lent itself to an array of celebrations of the poet and his work, both in Italy and around the world. Among the many studies, publications, and events that took place in 1921, we find this book by the Franco-Italian Intellectual Union. The Union was founded in 1916 in Paris, an initiative taken on by Henri Hauvette, then-professor of Italian literature at the Sorbonne, with the goal of better acquainting the French population with Italy and all it had to offer (Hauvette 1916). Hauvette himself signs one of the contributions in the collection.

In addition to being comprised of a miscellany of articles from different disciplines, it can be said that the publication itself is presented in the form of a true art gallery. The 42 illustrated paintings cover a variety of subjects, from the illuminations of the Comedy based on manuscript 597 found in the Musée Condé in Chantilly to photographs of Giotto's frescoes in Assisi, from Sandro Botticelli's Dante-esque drawings to those of Eugène Delacroix. The intention to publish such an elegant and precious edition is also reflected in the choice of paper, with a series of limited edition copies printed on Japanese, Hollande, and Arches paper.

The copy of the volume kept by the Université de Montréal belonged to Joseph-Édouard Perrault (1874-1948), a lawyer, politician, and businessman. He was a Liberal deputy of the Assemblée nationale du Québec, elected in Arthabaska. More so, he was Minister of Colonization, Mines and Fisheries from 1919 to 1929, as well as Minister of Highways from 1929 to 1936. The Université de Montréal acquired his library in 1975.

Full title: Dante. Mélanges de critique et d’érudition françaises publiés à l’occasion du VIe Centenaire de la mort du Poète.

Contents: Pierre de Nolhac, Pour le VIe centenaire de la mort de Dante (sonetto): “Maître dont chaque siècle a vu grandir l’image!”, p. 9; Alfred Jeanroy, Dante et les troubadours, pp. 11-21; Paul Sabatier, Saint François d'Assise et Dante. Simples notes à propos des sources qui ont inspiré l’allégorie des noces mystiques du Saint avec la Pauvreté, pp. 23-35; Henri Hauvette, Réalisme et fantasmagorie dans la vision de Dante, pp. 37-51; Julien Luchaire, Quelques observations sur le style de la Comédie, pp. 53-59; E. Jordan, Le gibelinisme de Dante; la doctrine de la monarchie universelle, pp. 61-91; L. Auvray, Les miniatures du manuscrit de l'Enfer à Chantilly, pp. 93-105; Léon Dorez, François I^er et la "Commedia", pp. 107-123; Pierre Ronzy, Dante auxiliaire du gallicanisme dans le "De episcopis urbis" de Papire Masson (1586), pp. 125-135; R. Schneider, Dante et Delacroix, pp. 137-155; Paul Hazard, Dante et l’"Exilé" (1832), pp. 157-164; André Pirro, Franz Liszt et la "Divine Comédie", pp. 165-184; Gabriel Maugain, L'orthodoxie de Dante et le critique française de 1830 à 1860, pp. 185-207; Léonce Bénédite, Dante et Rodin, pp. 209-219; Gustave Kahn. L'inspiration dantesque chez Paul Dardé, pp. 221-225.

Date of publication: 1921.

Place of publication: Paris, France.

Publisher: Librairie française.

Language: French.

Material description: 279 p., 225 x 190 mm, 40 illustrated plates, each with printed interleaves paper. Volume printed on Arches paper. Bound in linen cloth.

Call number: Université de Montréal, Bibliothèque des livres rares et collections spéciales, Joseph-Édouard-Perrault Collection, PERRAULT 1509.2.

Catalogue: https://umontreal.on.worldcat....

Known owners: Joseph-Édouard Perrault (1874-1948).

Ex-libris and stamps: Red "Université de Montréal" stamp on the lower gutter.

History of the copy: volume published in Paris, part of the library of Joseph-Édouard Perrault and left to the Université de Montréal in 1975 as a bequest by his wife Madeleine Perrault (1887-1975).

Notes: Limited edition. Copies from I to X printed on Japanese paper, from XI to XL on Holland paper, from XLI to C on Arches paper. The copy kept by the University of Montreal is number 43.

Bibliography

Hauvette, Herni E. 1916. "L'union intellectuelle franco-italienne," Revue internationale de l'enseignement, 70, pp. 357-363.

Author and date of the record: Alessio Marziali Peretti, 23-07-2021.