BRÉS, (Jean-Pierre, le jeune)   L'ABEILLE DES JARDINS.       &nbspParis: Chez Lefuel, (ca.   1822).          A charming illustrated French almanac whose contents are entirely devoted to the garden. An amazing number of topics are covered in the text, from ancient French gardens and the jardin anglais in Paris to varieties of water features, labyrinths, garden deities, grottoes, ruins, pavilions, bosquets, the haha, garden seating and much more. Brés also quotes extensively from poetry concerning the garden and includes a satiric poem on the jardin anglais in Paris and its excesses. Opinions are expressed concerning various types of fabriques and specific garden flowers. The delicate engravings which illustrate the volume consist of the decorative title (a waterfall beneath a bridge); a children's garden with a mount, berceau, sun-flowers and toppled tree box; a window garden; a bridge, cascade and temple scene; "La Fontaine de Jouvence"; a tree house; an aviary; a grotto; a "mountain" with a pavilion on top; a Gothic pavilion over a lake; a swing enclosed in a bower by a swan-filled lake; and a floral clock. The whole volume expresses a romantic charm which effectively evokes the fashionable romantic gardens it describes. OCLC locates only 4 copies: Yale, Dumbarton Oaks, Smithsonian and Bibiothèque Nationale. We have also owned 2 colored copies of this scarce work, but sold them for more than twice the price of this uncolored copy.   18mo (13.4 x 8.4 cm); decorative engraved title + 248 pp. + 11 engraved plates.   Ganay 192.          Recently rebound in quarter morocco with marbled boards and new end papers; very faint foxing. $450.00

CLICK To Return To Recent Arrivals List     /    HOME