Full Vellum
by Piazzetta, Giambattista [after]. Anonymous copyist,
Full Vellum. Very Good. N.d., but late 18th century, after the publication of the original work in 1760, published in Venezia by Remondi. Large 8vo, 25 by 20 cm. 25 pen and ink pages of illustration. These begin with the elaborate pen and ink Baroque title page, with architectural decoration, followed by page showing drawings of hands, a second title with what we presume the one more fully original work by the copyist of seraphs holding up drapery with the title and a woman painter working before an easel, and other illustrative decoration (a broken sculpted head on the ground, etc.). Then 23 pages of pen and ink nude male studies, the figures very Michelangelo-esque in the musculature, and their overall sculptural quality. We would speculate that this copyist was in fact a woman, based on the second title illustration. This particular illustration is delightful, if the human figure itself doesn't have quite the polished execution of the copied material. Inked title on the vellum spine. The vellum is quite soiled. Otherwise, the paper within is of high quality and clean.
(Inventory #: 005298)