first edition
by BOWYER, Robert, publisher; PROUT, Samuel
London: R. Bowyer, 1825. A Tour de Force of Engraving and Colouring" (Martin Hardie)
BOWYER, Robert, publisher. A Selection of Fac-Similes of Water-Colour Drawings, from the works of the most distinguished British artists. London: Published by R. Bowyer, 1825.
First edition, first issue (before the titles were added at the foot of the plates). Text watermarked "J. Whatman 1824".
Large folio (19 3/16 x 14 7/8 inches; 488 x 378 mm.). Title-page, and nine leaves of descriptive text. Twelve magnificent hand colored aquatint plates including four by Samuel Prout.
Mid twentieth century half blue morocco over blue cloth boards ruled in blind. Smooth spine lettered horizontally in gilt. Old typed description affixed to front free endpaper.
An excellent example of a very beautiful and uncommon color plate book.
The plates:
1. Fountain of the Stone Cross at Rouen, in Normandy. (S. Prout)
2. Driving Cattle to Market. (R. Hills)
3. Cattle, & c. at Williams Farm (R. Hills)
4. Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire. (F. Nicholson)
5. Fountain's Abbey, Yorkshire. (J. Smith)
6. Juvenile Shrimpers.--Deal. (W. Collins)
7. Shipwreck on the Black Rocks, near Scarborough, Yorkshire. (F. Nicholson)
8. Le Place de la Pucelle... Joan of Arc. (S. Prout)
9. The Dropping Well, at Knaresborough, Yorkshire. (F. Nicholson)
10. Ghent, (or Gand,) with the Cathedral, &c. (S. Prout)
11. Group of Donkies, and Rustic Children. (R. Hills)
12. South Entrance to the Cathedral of Rouen, in Normandy. (S. Prout)
"A Selection of Fac-Similes of Water Colour Drawings, published by R. Bowyer in 1825, contains twelve aquatints, beautifully executed and coloured. No engraver's name is mentioned, but the plates are after S. Prout, R. Hills, F. Nicholson. W. Collins, and J. Smith. 'The dripping fountain,' [plate 9] after Nicholson will appeal to many as tour de force of engraving and colouring, and some of Prout's characteristic Normandy sketches are reproduced with sympathy and skill." (Martin Hardie, p. 145).
Martin Hardie's comment regarding 'The dripping fountain,' [plate 9], could equally be applied to all of the twelve plates. The images include genre and landscape work with scenes in England, France and Flanders, and are each accompanied by informed notes about the artists, the subjects or the original history of the paintings on which the plates are based. The five artists whose work is represented were amongst the most popular of their day and their work is of very high quality, but it is evident that the works were also chosen by Bowyer as examples which would show off the mastery of his anonymous print-makers and colorists.
Rare with just one copy of the first edition appearing at auction over the past fifty years (Sotheby's London, January 15, 1988, lot 176. £1,000) and OCLC locating just one copy in libraries and institutions worldwide: National Art Library Victoria & Albert Museum (London, UK).
"Reissued in 1828 by R. Bowyer & M. Parkes with 10 leaves of Text and 6 additional plates…" (Tooley, p. 106).
However the three copies of the 1828 second edition that are listed in OCLC (Huntington Library, CA, USA; Yale University Library, CT, USA, and Cambridge University, UK), all have just twelve plates.
Abbey, Life 197; Tooley, 100; Martin Hardie, p. 145; Bobins II: 618. (Inventory #: 06058)
BOWYER, Robert, publisher. A Selection of Fac-Similes of Water-Colour Drawings, from the works of the most distinguished British artists. London: Published by R. Bowyer, 1825.
First edition, first issue (before the titles were added at the foot of the plates). Text watermarked "J. Whatman 1824".
Large folio (19 3/16 x 14 7/8 inches; 488 x 378 mm.). Title-page, and nine leaves of descriptive text. Twelve magnificent hand colored aquatint plates including four by Samuel Prout.
Mid twentieth century half blue morocco over blue cloth boards ruled in blind. Smooth spine lettered horizontally in gilt. Old typed description affixed to front free endpaper.
An excellent example of a very beautiful and uncommon color plate book.
The plates:
1. Fountain of the Stone Cross at Rouen, in Normandy. (S. Prout)
2. Driving Cattle to Market. (R. Hills)
3. Cattle, & c. at Williams Farm (R. Hills)
4. Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire. (F. Nicholson)
5. Fountain's Abbey, Yorkshire. (J. Smith)
6. Juvenile Shrimpers.--Deal. (W. Collins)
7. Shipwreck on the Black Rocks, near Scarborough, Yorkshire. (F. Nicholson)
8. Le Place de la Pucelle... Joan of Arc. (S. Prout)
9. The Dropping Well, at Knaresborough, Yorkshire. (F. Nicholson)
10. Ghent, (or Gand,) with the Cathedral, &c. (S. Prout)
11. Group of Donkies, and Rustic Children. (R. Hills)
12. South Entrance to the Cathedral of Rouen, in Normandy. (S. Prout)
"A Selection of Fac-Similes of Water Colour Drawings, published by R. Bowyer in 1825, contains twelve aquatints, beautifully executed and coloured. No engraver's name is mentioned, but the plates are after S. Prout, R. Hills, F. Nicholson. W. Collins, and J. Smith. 'The dripping fountain,' [plate 9] after Nicholson will appeal to many as tour de force of engraving and colouring, and some of Prout's characteristic Normandy sketches are reproduced with sympathy and skill." (Martin Hardie, p. 145).
Martin Hardie's comment regarding 'The dripping fountain,' [plate 9], could equally be applied to all of the twelve plates. The images include genre and landscape work with scenes in England, France and Flanders, and are each accompanied by informed notes about the artists, the subjects or the original history of the paintings on which the plates are based. The five artists whose work is represented were amongst the most popular of their day and their work is of very high quality, but it is evident that the works were also chosen by Bowyer as examples which would show off the mastery of his anonymous print-makers and colorists.
Rare with just one copy of the first edition appearing at auction over the past fifty years (Sotheby's London, January 15, 1988, lot 176. £1,000) and OCLC locating just one copy in libraries and institutions worldwide: National Art Library Victoria & Albert Museum (London, UK).
"Reissued in 1828 by R. Bowyer & M. Parkes with 10 leaves of Text and 6 additional plates…" (Tooley, p. 106).
However the three copies of the 1828 second edition that are listed in OCLC (Huntington Library, CA, USA; Yale University Library, CT, USA, and Cambridge University, UK), all have just twelve plates.
Abbey, Life 197; Tooley, 100; Martin Hardie, p. 145; Bobins II: 618. (Inventory #: 06058)
(818) 222-4103
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