A Very Fine Contemporary Copy of "The
Supreme Anthology of French Rococo Illustrations"

Stock #: ST11005           $9500
PJP Catalog 58.250

     (FRENCH ILLUSTRATED BOOKS). OVID.
LES METAMORPHOSES. (Paris: Panckoucke [last two volumes Delalain]  1767-71)   255 x 195 mm. (10 x 7 3/4").    Four volumes. First Edition with these Illustrations.    VERY FINE CONTEMPORARY MARBLED CALF HANDSOMELY GILT covers with thick and thin triple fillet border raised bands spine with scrolling floral bands at top and bottom and with charming gilt compartments featuring floral centerpiece and foliate sprays as cornerpieces each spine with two brown morocco labels marbled endpapers all edges gilt.    Large engraved vignette headpieces and decorative tailpieces engraved vignette on each title page Volume I with added engraved title page and engraved dedication leaf and 139 VERY FINE ENGRAVED PLATES after Eisen Monnet J. M. Moreau Boucher Gravelot Le Prince Parizeau and St. Gois engraved by Lemire Leveau Massard and others (the first plate as well as dedication vignettes and head- and tailpieces engraved by Choffard).    Front pastedown of each volume with the unusually elegant bookplate of "Broband" embossed in neoclassical style.    Joints slightly flaked a few minor marks to covers along with the inevitable pitting that comes with acidic treatment of leather but the original elegant binding entirely solid and extraordinarily attractive showing little wear. One leaf with much of lower margin missing (apparently a paper flaw) the text not affected very occasional hardly perceptible foxing other trivial imperfections (a couple of small wax spots a very few minor tears and smudges) but AN EXCEPTIONALLY FINE SET with the text especially clean fresh and bright and with rich impressions of the engravings.

This is a marvelous contemporary copy of what Ray says flatly "is the supreme anthology of French Rococo book illustrations." The plates were first intended for printing as a separate suite designed by "the best French painters" and engraved by the best engravers but before they could be published separately they were incorporated in this edition of Ovid. The result says Ray "is a high point among illustrated books of the 18th century." It is difficult to exaggerate the pleasure the illustrations give. They are executed with great delicacy; the effects of light and shadow are especially impressive; and the sharpness and detail of even background figures are unusually fine. The preliminary pictures were done by a number of different artists. "The veteran Boucher appears beside the young Moreau with Eisen Choffard Monnet and Gravelot also playing substantial roles" says Ray. He singles out for special praise the illustrations of Eisen and finds his four depictions of the seasons supreme from Spring a graceful maiden fingering flower garlands flown in by cupids to old man Winter hovering over a fire at which the fat cupids also warm themselves. Ray also is enthusiastic about the headpieces of Choffard calling them "images which baffle the mind while they set it dreaming." With such a number of plates one could expect to find an occasional engraving that is noticeably inferior but in this work the illustrations maintain a remarkably consistent high level of excellence. The present copy is from the first issue with these plates an issue Cohen-de Ricci describes as much superior to the second (which is identified as having volume IV dated 1770).

Ray 62; Cohen-de Ricci 769-72 ("superbe ouvrage"); Brunet IV 285-86; Graesse V 89-90.