Jesu Via et Vita Nostra / Jesu Thesaurus Fidelium

Lithograph printed in two tones on wove paper.
Reference: BN-IFF 2.
Plate 6 for the set of 9 color lithographs titled “Le Cantique des Créatures”.
Trial proof of an early state, before the addition of the elaborate sky. Aside from the edition of 100 printed in color variants. In this variant, the subject looks much more peaceful than in the animated spirit conveyed in later states.
Image size: 15 1/8 x 20 inches

The lithograph is sometimes also titled La Chapelle de Minerville. Where this title comes from is unclear. The placename of Minerville doesn’t exist in France, only in Algeria. There exists, however, west of Paris, a small town named Ménerville. It is quite possible that the cursive writing of and "é" was mis-transcribed as an "i". There is, about 10 kilometers from Ménerville, in the open country near Guainville, a small chapel named Chapelle Notre-Dame de Bonne Nouvelle. It is quite plausible that Dulac would have visited this area accessible from Paris, be inspired by the lovely chapel, which still stands today, and included it in this composition. The terrace of the abbey of Vézelay makes a similar appearance in Dulac’s oeuvre.