WITWICKI Stefan
BIBLICAL POEMS, IDYLLIC SONGS AND VARIOUS POEMS
Paris 1836, in the Polish Bookshop, Wydanie A.Jełowickiego i Spółka, p.376, 8 nlb., numerous finales crowning the works - woodcuts; format 10.5x17cm
HARDCOVER FULL CONTEMPORARY DECORATIVE LEATHER, ON THE FACES DOUBLE ORNAMENTAL BORDURE OF FLORAL CHARACTER TOPPED WITH GILDED FLOWER IN THE CORNERS, IN THE MIRROR OF THE COVERS INTRICATELY EMBOSSED AND GILDED ORNAMENT OF FLORAL CHARACTER, THE SPINE WITH DIVISION INTO FIELDS, CONVEX SCROLLS AND RICH GILDING, LINERS OF HANDMADE MARBLED PAPER, THE EDGES OF THE PAGES STAINED WITH THE SAME PATTERN, THE INTERIORS OF THE COVERS FINISHED WITH GOLD ROLL. THE BINDING IS STYLISTICALLY REMINISCENT OF THE LAVISH BINDINGS OF THE ERA!
Stefan Witwicki (born September 13, 1801 in Janów, Podolia, died April 15, 1847 in Rome) - Polish Romantic poet, publicist, author of the words to the popular feast song Drinks Kuba to Jakub.
"Under this title, a new xiega from among the Emigration enriched national literature. Biblical poems and idyllic songs were in part published in the country....
To the biblical poems formerly printed, in the new edition, among other things, came Threnes inspired by the present situation....
Frédéric Chopin our most national artist, so this song, as well as several others by Witwicki, and some of Janusz's Songs adorned, poured into wonderful music of his own. The fortunate combination of the poetry of music and the poetry of the writer, both of which he translates, elevates, and creates a new charm of the highest poetry a charm that lifts beyond the world of the language of music itself. This charm cannot be described, but whoever wants to understand it, should ask Chopin to read and play a song together. We, on the other hand, who have heard Chopin, ask him to collect the diamonds of his Polish music, which he scattered here and there, and to add new pearls to these diamonds, and before time allows him to gather all these treasures into a national opera, let him weave from them a wreath for our poetry."
Source: The Yearbook of Polish Emigration: A journal of national politics and literature, Paris 1836, in the Polish Bookstore, Edition of A.Jełowicki and Company.
"His poetic work - long since unpublished in separate editions - has been almost completely forgotten, present today - in its tiny fraction - only in a few anthologies. Few also remember that Witwicki is the author of the texts that served as words to some well-known songs by Chopin, Moniuszko and other composers, and that, according to the poet's idea, Mickiewicz (a long-time friend of his) created in Pan Tadeusz a description of Matecznik and a description of the beginning of the hunt. Witwicki's journalistic works, collected in the book Evenings of a Pilgrim (1833-42), which at one time gained great popularity and by 1885 had as many as five editions, also fell into the shadows. Since that year Letters from Abroad has not been published either. The collection of minor writings has not been reprinted since 1878, and there are rare pieces of the prayer book "Ołtarzyk polski mniejszy", which from the time of its original publication (1836) until 1880 had eleven editions. Above the favorable opinions about Witwicki's poetry - and there were quite a few of them in his era, although perhaps not loud enough - there were no less numerous, but certainly more strongly formulated negative opinions about it from his contemporaries. These, unfortunately, became fixed in the public consciousness and had a negative impact on the poet's reception among posterity. The author of Idyllic Songs was unfairly labeled an imitator, which was later replaced by some with the equally damaging term of epigone. In various circles, various claims were made against Witwicki, many misunderstandings arose around his poetry and many misleading, sometimes persistent assessments and interpretations...."
Source: from the introduction: "Pioski sielskie, poezje biblijne i wiersze róźne", PAX Publishing Institute 1986, selection, arrangement and elaboration of the text Wojciech Jerzy Podgórski.
A rare Paris edition! Zaiwera piewodruki utworów!
BDB condition/ yellowing of early pages, very few rust spots [foxing], BEAUTIFUL EXECUTION IN LUXURY COVER.
