[Rarebooks] fs: Noted Historian's copy of Winklmann's Ancient Art

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

 From our new printed "Just Catalogued " List  #253-

Winkelmann, [Johann Joachim]. HISTOIRE DE l'ART CHEZ LES ANCIENS. Paris; 
Chez Barrois / Savoye: 1789. Nouvelle edition, revue et corrigee. 
Translated from the German by Michael Huber. A handsome French edition of 
this famous book by the man generally credited as being the first modern 
art historian.

Winkelmann (1717-1768) was a Librarian of the Vatican, President of 
Antiquities of the Papal States, and an artistic and architectural advisor 
to the powerful Cardinal Albani; he studied ancient Roman art extensively 
in Rome and Florence, and participated in the early excavations of Pompeii 
and Herculaneum. His "History of Ancient Art", first published in Germany 
in 1764, remained a standard text for over a century and broke new ground 
in many areas of our understanding of ancient art history and the 
aesthetics of art. Indeed, the influences of his ideas are still felt 
today. Winckelmann's career met a tragic end when he was murdered at an inn 
in Trieste for some ancient coins he had incautiously shown to another guest.

This set of this important work belonged to Brantz Mayer, with his 
bookplate in each volume, as well as his ownership signature on each title 
page; several volumes have some minor pencil notations which also appear to 
be in Mayer's handwriting. Brantz Mayer [1809-1879] was a lawyer, author, 
traveler, and for 25 years the President of the Maryland Historical 
Society, which he had helped to found. The ownership inscriptions on the 
title pages of these books- "Brantz Mayer Paris Sept. 27th, 1833", would 
coincide with Mayer's 1833 trip to Europe. In 1843 he was appointed to a 
legation which visited Mexico, and he subsequently wrote "Mexico as it Was, 
and as it Is". Among his other books were, "Mexico. Aztec, Spanish, and 
Republican", "Captain Canot, or Twenty Years of an African Slaver," 
"Mexican Antiquities", "Memoir of Jared Sparks", and "Baltimore as it Was 
and as it Is".

An interesting historical association of one of the most important early 
art histories, owned by a scholar and author avidly interested in the 
antiquities and archaeology of other cultures.

3 vols. Hardcover. 5.5"x8.5", clx [iv] 212, 379, 328 pages; lacks the 27 
engraved plates, which were supposed to be bound at the end of Volume 3, 
but do not appear to have been bound into this set (there is certainly no 
evidence of their having been bound in and then removed). Bookplates of 
Brantz Mayer on each pastedown. Bound in 19th century marbled boards with 
leather spines in red with elaborate impressed medallions and gilt chains, 
with black labels and gilt titles. Covers with some rubbing and wear, but 
very handsome overall; marbled endpapers, endpaper loose in Vol. 1; some 
minor internal soil, a little browning, etc. A handsome set, with a great 
association, but unfortunately lacking the plates and priced accordingly. 
[07294]  $375.00


The covers-
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images07/th-07294.jpg>





JOSLIN HALL RARE BOOKS, ABAA
Fine books of the 16th-20th centuries
on the decorative and fine arts & design

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