This rare 1975 portfolio Settings & Models is an extraordinary suite of ten photographic plates after Alphonse Mucha, published by Academy Editions London and printed by Graphics International Limited in Washington DC. Selected and introduced by artist and art historian Graham Ovenden, these prints offer an intimate glimpse into Mucha’s artistic process and studio life, featuring models posed in preparatory settings that informed his most iconic works.
Each photograph in this boxed edition reveals Mucha’s meticulous attention to detail, decorative costume, and authentic narrative staging, capturing both the grandeur and subtlety of his Art Nouveau vision. From posed nudes and orientalist costumes to evocative interior views of his Paris studio, these images evoke the poetic, spiritual atmosphere underpinning his visual universe. The suite includes candid portrayals of Mucha at work and models in deeply expressive postures, highlighting the direct photographic source material behind his lithographs and paintings.
Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939) remains one of the defining masters of Art Nouveau. Best known for his ornate posters of Sarah Bernhardt and flowing decorative panels of female beauty, he embraced photography as an essential compositional tool, bridging classical draftsmanship and modern photographic realism. This publication celebrates that lesser-known photographic dimension of his practice.
Beautifully printed on fine paper with clear edition notations, the Settings & Models portfolio is a collector’s gem, offering historical insight into Mucha’s methods and the lived reality behind his stylised designs. Ideal for collectors of Art Nouveau, photography, and graphic design history, this boxed set honours the enduring elegance and intimate vision of one of Europe’s greatest decorative artists.
Photography
Selected and introduced by Graham Ovenden
12.5 x 9.5 cm plate 1/2/3/5/6/7/10 - 13.5 x 18 cm plate 4/8 - 10.5 x 13 plate 9, slightly damaged slipcase
Academy Editions London - Graphics International Limited - Washington D.C.
