Master of Unicorn and his "Apocalypse"

Jean Duve (c. 1485 - c. 1559) - one of the most mysterious French renaissance engravers. Until the 19th century, he was known as the Master of the Unicorn - thanks to a series of six engravings for the plot of unicorn (L'Histoire de la Licorne), which were inspired by the love relationships of Henry II and Diana de Poitier, the uncorrected Queen of France. The artist is attributed to a little more than 70 engravings that have survived to this day, of which the most significant work is the series “Apocalypse”, published in the form of the book “L'Apocalypse Figuree” in 1561 in Lyon. The series consists of 23 engravings. This publication is also surrounded by a halo of mystery and is the subject of long -term discussions. The impression of the foreignness of engravings is due to their non -infinitive format: there is even the assumption that these were originally stained glass sketches in the Saint -Mammes Cathedral in Langra - for its Renaissance windows with a semicircular top.

The series was created in the extremely dramatic period of religious wars, Therefore, it is great to read the researchers to read in a dense, confusing, almost encrypted visual “text” of engravings one or another topical interpretation.

the decorativeness of the duve style is paradoxically combined with expression, the superficial layout of the compositions turns the figures of people, soldiers, angels, angels. Demons, architecture and landscape elements in the ornament, visual rebus, congenial to the text of John the Theologian. The quasijigo is emotional and suggestive, with an increase in its drawing, it can sometimes seem schematic and naive in details, but as a whole these strange engravings-pans are impressive and stunned.

This rare monument of the late Renaissance after 460 years is first reproduced in 460 years The form of a commented publication - accompanied by a Russian translation of the revelation of John the Theologian, three art history articles and 70 additional illustrations.