Eighteen Portraits. Original lithographs by Maurice Grosser

New York: Vincent FitzGerald and Company, 1985. First Edition, limited, one of 120 copies only printed on handmade "Crisbrook" paper by J.P. Green, each copy numbered and signed by both artists, Virgil Thomson and Maurice Grosser. Lithographs pulled at the Printmaking Workshop by Jennifer Lynch, Agnes Murray and Holly Sears, music in Virgil Thomson's hand printed by John Hutcheson from negatives made by Gail Alt, letterpress in handset Garamond by Dan Keleher at Wild Carrot Letterpress, calligraphy by Jerry Kelly. Page size: 17 1/2 x 14 inches. Bound: loose in clamshell box of blue Tussah Silk and Ganryo Hikizome paper by Gerard Charriere and Carol Joyce, title in silver stamped on black label.
A truly distinguished work from Vincent FitzGerald & Company, a collaboration between the composer Virgil Thomson and his partner, the painter Maurice Grosser. The left side of each two-page spread is the music, in Thomson's hand (at age 90), and on the right side is one of Grosser's first lithographs, done at age 83. The two friends collaborated before on Thomson's operas, and these portraits reflect mutual friendships of such people as Theodate Johnson, who sang Thomson's operas, and the writer Jane Bowles. The musical portraits were written at various times from 1929, and have all been newly rewritten for piano for this edition. Grosser's black and white lithograph portraits, so strong and fresh, are not only a perfect complement to the music but evoke very clear musical tones of their own. Published on Thomson's 90th birthday celebration, it reflects a truly an inspired collaboration and is a magnificent book.