SELECT VIEWS IN SICILY

(COLOR PLATES - TRAVEL AND VIEWS, SICILY). [GIGAULT DE LA SALLE, ACHILLE ETIENNE]

Published by John Weale, London, 1825

About this Item

364 x 270 mm. (14 1/4 x 10 3/4"). [29] leaves.Translated by J. F. d'Ostervald. Original purple cloth stamped in gilt on upper cover, rebacked in recent times with dark brown calf, red calf spine label with blind-stamped lettering, new pastedowns and endleaves. With 36 FINE HAND-COLORED AQUATINT PLATES. A Large Paper Copy. Abbey, "Travel" 264. â Cloth a bit sunned and spotty in places, but the binding sturdily restored. Occasional light offsetting and minor foxing to text leaves, but internally an extremely pleasing copy, THE PLATES IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION. This is a pleasing copy of a work Abbey calls "the most ambitious of the coloured aquatint books edited by J. F. d'Ostervald," who produced a number of works on the picturesque, including two famous oversized editions focusing on regions in France. His book on Sicily was originally published in French in giant folio and appeared in 24 parts between 1822-26. Abbey notes that the present English edition includes a "selection of the views engraved in a smaller size, by, it will be noticed, the same group of engravers, although they have not necessarily engraved the same subjects as they did in the larger work." The luminous views capture the magic of the island as experienced by the traveller of the early 19th century. Sicily's well-preserved Greek temples are, of course, featured, but port scenes, Medieval churches, picturesque villages, and the interior of Etna's crater are also depicted, all in lovely color. The engravings, accompanied by letter press explanations, are of great interest and considerable beauty; they give the impression of being "snapshots" of a moment in time, rather than static landscape views. We catch a glimpse of finely dressed gentlemenâ "no doubt on a Grand Tourâ "exploring a ruin, shepherds tending their flocks, fishermen hauling in a catch, and young women sitting on a stone wall, chatting in a quiet moment. The colors are realistically rendered, neither subdued nor garish, and have weathered the years well. The plates are memorable for their use of light and shadow to give a convincing feeling of three-dimensionality amidst luminous skies, darkened interiors, and a number of other variably lit settings. Abbey noted that our English edition was uncommon, and that remains the case: RBH records just eight copies sold at auction, only two in this century, and the work is infrequently seen in commerce generally. Seller Inventory # ST19399a

Bibliographic Details

Title: SELECT VIEWS IN SICILY

Publisher: John Weale, London

Publication Date: 1825

Edition: First Edition in English.