Art nouveau lithograph 'Aigles' – eagles, M.P. Verneuil, 1897

A powerful Art Nouveau colour lithograph with three eagles on a gnarled oak branch with red autumn leaves, against a stylised sky in grey and green. One eagle spreads its wings in a broad diagonal across the image. From the famous Art Nouveau portfolio 'L’Animal dans la décoration' (Paris, 1897) by Maurice Pillard Verneuil, with an introduction by Eugène Grasset. In this book Verneuil showed how animals could be stylised into ornament, carpets, wallpaper and decorative art; the plates were printed as colour lithographs by Imprimerie Lemercier in Paris. At the top 'L’Animal dans la décoration' and a plate number, below the image 'Aigles', 'M.P. Verneuil' and 'Imp. Lemercier, Paris'. Of all the plates in this book, this one with the eagles is among the most decorative: the outspread wing and the red oak leaves make it a small masterpiece. Suits an Art Nouveau, Japanese-inspired or classic interior; also lovely in a study or hallway. Condition: Fair to good. Colours good. There are a few small damp spots in the light-coloured wing (photo 4). The paper is lightly toned; the upper right corner is slightly creased and the edges are worn (photo 1).