ANDROUET DU CERCEAU, Jacques (ca. 1520-1586). Librum... de eo picturae genere quod grottesche vocant Itali. [Suite of etched ornament designs]. Orlans, [1550 and later]. 4o (171 x 118 mm). 51 unsigned and unnumbered etchings, printed on rectos only, including first leaf containing etched author's preface to the readers (in lieu of a title) within ornamental architectural border. Plate 24 is an earlier state of pl. 45. The plates neatly numbered in pencil. (Plate 7 discreetly repaired and portions of the image in facsimile, plates 45-47 and 49-50 remargined). 19th-century Jansenist red morocco by Hardy-Mennil, turn-ins gilt, gilt edges (minor wear to extremities). Provenance: Edward Arnold (armorial bookplate). Suite of later impressions of the plates used in the 1550 edition. Following the 1480 discovery of wall paintings in the ruins of Nero's Domus Aurea, Androuet du Cerceau was instrumental in popularizing "grotesque" designs in France, combining existing compositions with his own inventions. See Brunet I:282 and Supplement I:422. Sold not subject to return.