MONGEZ, Antoine, et Jean-Baptiste WICAR - Lot 115

MONGEZ, Antoine, et Jean-Baptiste WICAR Paintings, statues, bas-reliefs and cameos from the Florence Gallery and the Pitti Palace Paris, Lacombe and L. J. Masquelier, 1789-1807 ORIGINAL EDITION 4 volumes folio (560 x 385mm). Engraved vignettes COLLATION: (I): 3 f. n. o.c., and 47 f. n. o.c.; (II): 1 f. n. o.c., 47 f. n. o.c.; (III): 1 f. n. o.c., 48 f. n. o.c.; (IV): 1 f. n. o.c., 48 ff., 1 f. PRINTING: copy on "papier superfin d'Annonay" with "figures avant la lettre" (Cohen-de Ricci; except for 3 figures, in volume IV) ILLUSTRATION: frontispiece engraved by Marais after Moitte, 192 plates etched under the direction of painter Lacombe after Jean-Baptiste Joseph Wicar (1762-1834) and Chasselat. With the exception of 12 full-page plates, the set comprises two subjects per plate. The plates are protected by serpents. EARLY BOOKBINDINGS SIGNED BY BOZERIAN YOUNG (on the tail of the spine of the first volume). Blond glazed calf, gilt roulette and filleting, ornate ribbed spines, gilt edges. PROVENANCE: CEV with motto "Labor omnia vincit improbus" (unidentified bookplate in first volume). A few pale freckles The original drawings for this book were burned in 1871 in the Louvre library fire. Cohen-de Ricci and Brunet report 50 issues of 4 plates each. In this copy, 48 issues are bound: "the 49th and 50th issues, completing this beautiful work, were published in Paris in 1821, by Aillaud, bookseller, who at the same time gave titles and a table for the entire collection, divided into 4 volumes" (Brunet). Antoine Mongez, author of this work, and his wife, were painted by David (1812; Musée du Louvre). BIBLIOGRAPHY : Brunet II, 1455 -- Cohen-de Ricci, 419