Folio. viii, [1], 177 pp., half-title, colour frontispiece plate by Mohammed Racim, profusely illustrated by colour paintings taken by Dinet during his pilgrimage to Mecca, numerous colour Islamic miniatures & ornaments by Mohamed Racim including the title-pages, captioned tissue guards, 1 map of Hijaz and the road to Syria, modern half calf with marbled boards, fitted in marbled case, title gilt on raised spine, top edge gilt, title printed in red & black with the saying La Ilaha Illa Lahh in Arabic, L’Edition D’Art H. Piazza, Paris, first edition, 1918.

Synopsis

Limited edition of 800 on vellum paper, of which this copy is numbered 445. The book was printed in memory of the Muslims who died for France.
Alphonse-Étienne Dinet, also known as Nasr’ Eddine Dinet (March 28, 1861 – December 24, 1929, Paris) was a French orientalist painter, who lived in Algeria for more than 30 years.
Dinet’s understanding of Arab culture and language set him apart from other orientalist artists. Surprisingly, he was able to find nude models in rural Algeria. Before 1900, most of his works could be characterized as “anecdotal genre scenes”. As he became more interested in Islam, he began to paint religious subjects more often. He was active in translating Arabic literature into French, publishing a translation of a 13th century Arab epic poem by Antarah ibn Shaddad in 1898.
Following in the tradition of all the great Islamic artists, from Persian carpet-weavers to Mughal miniaturists, he evoked the Prophet’s presence through a depiction of the daily lives and religious observances of his follower.
References: Catalogue Fischer Library 581; Carteret IV, 140; Mahe I, 726; Monod 3804