The Epiphanies by James Joyce, Vincent Fitzgerald & Co, 31 of 50

The Epiphanies by James Joyce 

Vincent Fitzgerald & Co, Limited Edition, 1987, 31 of 50

Original Art Work by Susan Weil and Marjorie Van Dyke

Signed by Susan Weil and Marjorie Van Dyke

FINE Condition

This is a very rare limited edition of "The Epiphanies” published Vincent Fitzgerald & Co, New York in 1987 with a limitation of 50 copies with this being number 31. James Joyce wrote the 40 epiphanies contained in this work between the ages of 18 and 21 with the topics ranging from his childhood experiences to the death of his brother. Francesca Valente, the art historian, wrote an article on the use of epiphanies by James Joyce, “Throughout his works, from Dubliners to Finnegans Wake, Joyce carried out his creative task by means of a series of epiphanies, a sequence of related moments of insight and understanding. The central meaning of Joyce's works is provided not so much by plot but by the revelation they suggest of a certain universe in a certain order.” In preparing to illustrate "The Epiphanies," Susan Weil and Marjorie Van Dyke first produced forty interpretative paintings based on James Joyce's dream-inspired writings. The two artists and Vincent FitzGerald realized that the epiphanies fell into four categories: Death, Dreams, Games (primarily word games or puns), and Planes, and they designed the shape and size of the book based on Joyce's original manuscript pages. Susan Weil produced the artwork for “Death" and “Planes” and Marjorie Van Dyke did the artwork for “Dreams” and “Games”.

Measuring approximately 15” by 13” with the individual pages measuring 12” by 14”, "The Epiphanies" is a spectacular production that includes 64 etchings, original watercolors, collages, and handcuttings. The book's pages, melded into accordion folds, are designed so that phrases are first read out of context and are then brought into focus. The watercolor maquette for Susan Weil's "Death" section is a blending of nine separate images transformed into a sequential statement that "evoked the sorrows and terrors of these five epiphanies about the death" of Joyce's brother. The contents are housed in a grey silk clamshell box. The condition of the contents is FINE with the clamshell box in FINE- condition with some sunburning.

About Vincent Fitzgerald & Co: Since 1981 with the publication of his first book, Vincent Fitzgerald & Co. has produced 50 incredible books in the “Livre d’Artiste” tradition. As theater critic Michael Feingold has written: "In our degraded age of uncaring mass manufacture...one artist (FitzGerald) was able to find so many kindred souls to share his love for works that are beautiful, meaningful, individual and scrupulously made."Gerrit Henry, poet and art critic, commenting on the effort that goes into each book that involves a minimum of 15 people working together on one project over a period of years wrote, “Fitzgerald’s works are acts of courage as well as creation.”

Photographs of the signature and limitation page, the clamshell box, and some of the artwork from the book appear below. Please note that although the photographs appear digitized as thumbnails, they are viewable in the photo viewer by running your mouse over the thumbnail. You can also click on the thumbnail to open a separate window where the pictures are viewable as a slideshow.