Recueil de Griffonis de Vues, Paysages, Fragments Antiques et Sujets Historiques
Saint-non, Jean Claude Richard, Abbé de
Paris. c.1788
Sold
First edition and early issue in contemporary red morocco of Saint-Non's famous compilation.
The content of individual copies can vary considerably. Ray (see below) cites a copy with 287 plates on 153 leaves as 'more inclusive than most'; the copy offered here, with 295 plates on 157 leaves, is, therefore, even more inclusive. The large margins, the very fine contemporary morocco binding (probably by Gosselin - the Laffitte / Rosebery copy of Saint-Non's 'Voyage Pittoresque' featured matching tooling and Gosselin's etiquette and it seems highly likely that all of Saint-Non's 'works' were bound at the same period) and the prestigious provenance mark this as an outstanding example.
The content of the work is as follows:
Engraved pictorial title by Le Prince.
8 leaves with eight large views (mainly Rome).
'Varie Vedute del Gentile Mulino … &c.'. 8 views on 3 leaves.
2 leaves with 6 'Vues' numbered 1 - 6.
6 leaves with 18 'Vues' including one leaf with 6 oval plates.
'Fragments Choisis dans les Peintures et les Tableaux les Plus Interessans des Palais et des Eglises de l'Italie. Première Série. Rome.' 12 leaves, each with two subjects.
'Fragments … &c. Seconde Suite. Rome.' 15 leaves, each with two subjects.
'Fragments … &c. Quatrième Suite. Venise.' 19 leaves, each with two subjects, numbered 1 - 38.
'Fragments … &c. Troisième Suite. Bologne.' 20 leaves, each with two subjects.
'Fragments … &c. 2ème Suite. Naples.' 15 leaves, each with two subjects.
'Choix de Quelques Morceaux des Peintures Antiques d'Herculanum Extraits du Museum de Portica. Seconde Suite. Naples.' 10 leaves, each with two subjects.
('Antiquités'). 18 leaves with 18 plates, each plate composed of multiple subjects, numbered 1 - 18.
('Antiquités'). 5 leaves, each with two subjects, numbered 1 - 10.
11 leaves with 12 subjects, mainly views in Rome.
Leaf with 'Le Docteur Franklin Couronné par la Liberté'.
6 leaves with 13 subjects, mainly after Rembrandt and Tiepolo.
1 leaf 6 subjects, portraits after Tiepolo, numbered 1 - 6.
3 leaves with 6 subjects after Tiepolo, della Bella, Northlinger, Elseimer and others.
Leaf with 6 caricatures of Neapolitan types by Robert.
'This comprehensive collection of etchings and aquatints by Saint-Non after various artists differs in make up from copy to copy ... Nowhere else are so many of what might be called aquatint incunables, dating as they do from the late 1760s and early 1770s, to be found between two covers. There is a second edition of the Recueil de griffonis, with the imprint of 'la veuve Lavoye', which appeared after the Revolution, probably in 1790.' (Ray).
[Ray, French Books 68; Brunet V, 56; not in Cicognara].
The content of individual copies can vary considerably. Ray (see below) cites a copy with 287 plates on 153 leaves as 'more inclusive than most'; the copy offered here, with 295 plates on 157 leaves, is, therefore, even more inclusive. The large margins, the very fine contemporary morocco binding (probably by Gosselin - the Laffitte / Rosebery copy of Saint-Non's 'Voyage Pittoresque' featured matching tooling and Gosselin's etiquette and it seems highly likely that all of Saint-Non's 'works' were bound at the same period) and the prestigious provenance mark this as an outstanding example.
The content of the work is as follows:
Engraved pictorial title by Le Prince.
8 leaves with eight large views (mainly Rome).
'Varie Vedute del Gentile Mulino … &c.'. 8 views on 3 leaves.
2 leaves with 6 'Vues' numbered 1 - 6.
6 leaves with 18 'Vues' including one leaf with 6 oval plates.
'Fragments Choisis dans les Peintures et les Tableaux les Plus Interessans des Palais et des Eglises de l'Italie. Première Série. Rome.' 12 leaves, each with two subjects.
'Fragments … &c. Seconde Suite. Rome.' 15 leaves, each with two subjects.
'Fragments … &c. Quatrième Suite. Venise.' 19 leaves, each with two subjects, numbered 1 - 38.
'Fragments … &c. Troisième Suite. Bologne.' 20 leaves, each with two subjects.
'Fragments … &c. 2ème Suite. Naples.' 15 leaves, each with two subjects.
'Choix de Quelques Morceaux des Peintures Antiques d'Herculanum Extraits du Museum de Portica. Seconde Suite. Naples.' 10 leaves, each with two subjects.
('Antiquités'). 18 leaves with 18 plates, each plate composed of multiple subjects, numbered 1 - 18.
('Antiquités'). 5 leaves, each with two subjects, numbered 1 - 10.
11 leaves with 12 subjects, mainly views in Rome.
Leaf with 'Le Docteur Franklin Couronné par la Liberté'.
6 leaves with 13 subjects, mainly after Rembrandt and Tiepolo.
1 leaf 6 subjects, portraits after Tiepolo, numbered 1 - 6.
3 leaves with 6 subjects after Tiepolo, della Bella, Northlinger, Elseimer and others.
Leaf with 6 caricatures of Neapolitan types by Robert.
'This comprehensive collection of etchings and aquatints by Saint-Non after various artists differs in make up from copy to copy ... Nowhere else are so many of what might be called aquatint incunables, dating as they do from the late 1760s and early 1770s, to be found between two covers. There is a second edition of the Recueil de griffonis, with the imprint of 'la veuve Lavoye', which appeared after the Revolution, probably in 1790.' (Ray).
[Ray, French Books 68; Brunet V, 56; not in Cicognara].
Folio. (520 x 350 mm). Etched pictorial title and 294 etchings or aquatints on 156 leaves by Saint-Non after Fragonard, Hubert Robert, J.-B. Le Prince, Rembrandt and others, all printed recto only on laid paper. Contemporary red morocco, boards with elaborate tooled borders in gilt, banded spine with decorative gilt tooling (musical instruments, artist tools, gardening implements) and green morocco title label with gilt title in seven compartments, board edges with gilt tooling, turn-ins with foliate patterning in gilt, blue marbled endpapers, blue silk place marker, a.e.g.
#43402
