[First-State Plates for] Le Antichità di Ercolano Esposte: Le Pitture Antiche D’Ercolano e Contorni
Naples (Italy): Stamperia Regia. c.1756-1792. Notes: Sheets: approximately 430 x 360 mm.
Le Antichità di Ercolano Esposte (Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed) is a work in 8 volumes of engravings of the findings from excavating the ruins of Herculaneum in the Kingdom of Naples (now Italy). It was published between 1757 and 1792, and copies were given to selected recipients across Europe. Despite the title, the Antichità di Ercolano shows objects from all the excavations the Bourbons undertook around the Gulf of Naples. These include Pompeii, Stabiae, and two sites in Herculaneum: Resina and Portici.
Le Antichità was designed more to impress readers with the quality of the objects in the King of Naples' collection than to be used in research. The book gave impetus to the neoclassical movement in Europe by giving artists and decorators access to a huge store of Hellenistic motifs.
The Accademia Ercolanese (Regale Accademia Ercolanese di Archeologia, or Royal Herculaneum Academy of Archaeology), issued volumes of the work from 1757 to 1792. The volumes were not for sale, but were given to the "happy few" that were chosen as recipients.
Two thousand copies were printed of the first volume. The first four volumes depicted paintings. These were painted wall fragments, including fragments removed from the portico. The fifth volume, published in 1767, was devoted to bronze busts. Another volume on bronze statues was issued in 1771. Plates from the Antichita were copied in London in 1773.
The collection includes: 31 plate sheets from volume I (including the section title); 26 from volume II; 43 from volume III (including section title); 13 from volume IV; 27 from volume V (including section title and sheet of vignettes); 21 from volume VI (including section title); 34 from volume VII (including section title and sheet of vignettes).
, Illustration: A very rare and unique collection of 184 first-state plate sheets from Le Antichità di Ercolano Esposte (Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed), a work in 8 volumes of engravings of the findings from excavating the ruins of Herculaneum in the Kingdom of Naples (now Italy). The plates are in the early outline state, at times showing multiple plates to a sheet that appear as separate plates (sheets) in the published volumes. All plates are in inverse or ‘mirrored’ to the published examples of the same. The plate numbers are identified in roman numerals; all plates in volumes II through VI additionally have the corresponding volume numbers printed on the sheets.
One plate in volume VII folding. A few plates are handcoloured; one sheet in volume IV shows colour sampling palette at lower margin.
, Category: Book Europe Italy;. The sheets are generally clean, some wear at edges, some tears at times affecting plates. One plate with cropped margins. Item #B7200
Price: $1,500.00