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  • (Pratolino)
    ETCHING. "View Of The Grotto Of Pan And Fame." by DELLA BELLA, Stephano.
    DELLA BELLA, Stephano.
    ETCHING. "View Of The Grotto Of Pan And Fame."

    1610. The first state, before the number (of two). Vesme no. 841. Chone/Grivel. STEPHANO DELLA BELLA 1610-1664, no. 42-4. A richly evocative etching of Pan and Fame's grotto in the Renaissance Italian villa garden at Pratolino. The impression is a double view, presenting opposite ends of the grotto side by side. On opposite sides of the statue representing the river Mugrone are seen Pan playing his flute and Fame sounding her trumpet, both of them animated as hydraulic automatons. This is one of six views by Della Bella which depict this stunning Medici garden, created by the Florentine architect Buontalenti. "In terms of hydraulic wonders, the fountains and grottoes of Pratolino are surely the apogee... Buontalenti emerges as the foremost…

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    1610. The first state, before the number (of two). Vesme no. 841. Chone/Grivel. STEPHANO DELLA BELLA 1610-1664, no. 42-4. A richly evocative etching of Pan and Fame's grotto in the Renaissance Italian villa garden at Pratolino. The impression is a double view, presenting opposite ends of the grotto side by side. On opposite sides of the statue representing the river Mugrone are seen Pan playing his flute and Fame sounding her trumpet, both of them animated as hydraulic automatons. This is one of six views by Della Bella which depict this stunning Medici garden, created by the Florentine architect Buontalenti. "In terms of hydraulic wonders, the fountains and grottoes of Pratolino are surely the apogee... Buontalenti emerges as the foremost inventor of grottoes in Italy." (Miller HEAVENLY CAVES, pp. 47, 49) Impression measuring 25 x 37 cm; signed SD Bella between the two views

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    Excellet condition, freshly mounted and matted, overall dimensions 45 x 53.

    Book ID: 14582
    View cart More details Price: £650.00
  • (Sackville-West, Vita)
    “In the White Garden, Sissinghurst Castle” by TENNENT, John.
    TENNENT, John.
    “In the White Garden, Sissinghurst Castle”

    n.p: 1978. Number 10 of 100 copies of this limited edition silk-screen print, signed by the noted natural history artist, John Tennent. A large and lovely late 20th century interpretation of the famous White Garden at Sissinghurst created by the author-plantswoman Vita Sackville-West. The image shows the clock tower, the abundance of white flowered and grey and soft green leaved plants and, as a focal point, the stunning sculpture, Vestal Virgin, cast in lead from the wooden sculpture by the Croatian artist Toma Rosandic. An artist’s interpretation of the “White Garden” 55. 5 x 38 cm with image impression at 44.4 x 31 cm.

    The print has been mounted on mat board and, invisible beneath the exterior mount, shows some abrasion in the margins not at all affecting the impression or the artist’s signature. Print impression fresh and bright.

    Book ID: 16389
    View cart More details Price: £225.00
  • (Versailles)
    RECUEIL DES FIGURES, GROUPES, THERMES, FONTAINES, VASES, STATUES, ET AUTRES ORNEMENS DE VERSAILLES. by THOMASSIN, Simon.
    THOMASSIN, Simon.
    RECUEIL DES FIGURES, GROUPES, THERMES, FONTAINES, VASES, STATUES, ET AUTRES ORNEMENS DE VERSAILLES. Tels Qu'ils Se Voyent A Present Dans Le Chateau & Parc. Gravé D'Après Les Originaux.

    Amsterdam: Pierre Mortier, 1695. Thomassin was sent by Colbert to study in Rome for four years before returning to France in 1680 and becoming court engraver to Louis XIV. Among his first projects after his return was to draw and publish illustrations of all the sculpture, ancient and modern, used to decorate the palace and gardens at Versailles. The first edition of this work appeared in Paris in 1694. It was quickly reissued, in the edition offered here, by Pierre Mortier in Amsterdam. This Dutch edition includes the same text and plates, but adds a folding engraved plan of the gardens of Versailles and a translation of the text into Latin, Italian and Dutch. The plates depict not only…

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    Amsterdam: Pierre Mortier, 1695. Thomassin was sent by Colbert to study in Rome for four years before returning to France in 1680 and becoming court engraver to Louis XIV. Among his first projects after his return was to draw and publish illustrations of all the sculpture, ancient and modern, used to decorate the palace and gardens at Versailles. The first edition of this work appeared in Paris in 1694. It was quickly reissued, in the edition offered here, by Pierre Mortier in Amsterdam. This Dutch edition includes the same text and plates, but adds a folding engraved plan of the gardens of Versailles and a translation of the text into Latin, Italian and Dutch. The plates depict not only the statuary, but also the fountains, hermae and vases distributed throughout the gardens. A rare second Paris edition with 26 additional plates was published in the same year as the first, but that edition also appeared without the garden plan. Ganay 37; Berlin Cat 4212. Small 4to (19.1 x 13.8 cm); 59 + (1) + (1) + (1) pp. + engraved title, 228 engraved plates, and a folding plan (49.5 x 32.5 cm).

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    Contemporary full calf, rubbed; minor worming in rear joint and back board, not affecting text, but generally a well preserved copy.

    Book ID: 14398
    Tags: olympia4
    View cart More details Price: £720.00
  • HARDOUIN-FUGIER, Elisabeth and Etienne GRAFE.
    THE LYON SCHOOL OF FLOWER PAINTING.

    Leigh-on Sea: F. Lewis, Publishers, Ltd, (1978). Edition limited to 500 copies. A study of the important school of French flower painters centered in Lyon in the 19th century, their connections to the textile industry, and the progress of the École des Beaux Arts at Lyon. The bulk of the text consists of an alphabetical annotated catalogue of flower painters, including available biographical and professional details. Illustrated with a color frontispiece reproducing a painting by Francois Lepage and 51 black and white reproductions of paintings by other members of the school. 4to (28.5 x 21 cm); 88 pp. + mounted color frontispiece + 51 black and white plates.

    Original cloth in lightly frayed dust jacket.

    Book ID: 14373
    View cart More details Price: £25.00
  • (Menars)
    FRANÇAIS, Anne.
    UN BEAU JOUR A MENARS.

    Paris: Librarie Hachette, 1964. One of 150 copies on Velin de Rives, “Imprimé spécialement pour/ MONSIEUR ANDRE MALRAUX/Ministere D’État / Chargé Des Affaires Culturelles” signed and inscribed by the author, “Hommage de l’auteur”. Menars, located on the Loire, began in the 17th century as a classical French garden and chateau. For a brief period (1760-1764), it served as the residence residence of Madame de Pompadour, who added her personal touch to the chateau with the help of architect, Jacques-Ange Gabriel. Following her death, her brother, the marquis de Marigny, engaged Jacques-Gabriel Soufflot to further develop the site. The exuberant drawings of Anne Français fill this colorful book with impressions of visits to Menars in winter and in spring. While…

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    Paris: Librarie Hachette, 1964. One of 150 copies on Velin de Rives, “Imprimé spécialement pour/ MONSIEUR ANDRE MALRAUX/Ministere D’État / Chargé Des Affaires Culturelles” signed and inscribed by the author, “Hommage de l’auteur”. Menars, located on the Loire, began in the 17th century as a classical French garden and chateau. For a brief period (1760-1764), it served as the residence residence of Madame de Pompadour, who added her personal touch to the chateau with the help of architect, Jacques-Ange Gabriel. Following her death, her brother, the marquis de Marigny, engaged Jacques-Gabriel Soufflot to further develop the site. The exuberant drawings of Anne Français fill this colorful book with impressions of visits to Menars in winter and in spring. While leading the reader through the interior and exterior spaces, she often succeeds in demonstrating their interrelationship. Accompanying text offers an overview of the history of Menars. A very charming book, printed by Mourlot and entirely designed by Français, known for inventing the concept of “ionnisme” in painting. With drawings, watercolors, text and mise en page executed entirely by the author/artist and produced in black and white and color lithograph at Mourlot, Paris. Copy printed for Andre Malraux 8vo (25.5 x 18 cm); (ii) + (xiv) + 17-66 + (10) pp. with text illustrations on every page printed in color and black and white; author’s signed presentation on the limitation page.

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    Original color printed illustrated wrappers; original stiff paper covers with upper cover printed in black with coat of arms and title; extremely light shelf-wear, but a near fine copy.

    Book ID: 16546
    Tags: olympia4
    View cart More details Price: £200.00