Details
RACINE, Jean. Oeuvres. Paris: Le Breton, 1760.
3 volumes, large 4° (293 x 208mm). Half-titles, titles with engraved vignettes by Chevillet after de Sève, engraved portrait of the author by J. Daullé, 12 plates, engraved head- and tail-pieces throughout by Flipart, Aliamet, Baquoy, Tardieu and others, all after de Sève. (Occasional light spotting or browning.) Contemporary red morocco gilt, covers with triple fillet border and foliate cornerpieces, spines in six compartments with floral tools, brown morocco lettering-pieces in two, g.e. (occasional skilful repairs to joints).
A handsome copy of the first edition of Racine to use de Sève's illustrations. According to Ray, "In these stately volumes, Jacques de Sève did for Racine what Boucher had done for Molière". De Sève was an accomplished painter who rarely undertook work as an illustrator: these volumes are perhaps his greatest achievement in this field. Cohen-de Ricci 846-7, giving two differing plate counts ("Très belle édition"); Ray French 60 ("an almost faultless achievement"). (3)
3 volumes, large 4° (293 x 208mm). Half-titles, titles with engraved vignettes by Chevillet after de Sève, engraved portrait of the author by J. Daullé, 12 plates, engraved head- and tail-pieces throughout by Flipart, Aliamet, Baquoy, Tardieu and others, all after de Sève. (Occasional light spotting or browning.) Contemporary red morocco gilt, covers with triple fillet border and foliate cornerpieces, spines in six compartments with floral tools, brown morocco lettering-pieces in two, g.e. (occasional skilful repairs to joints).
A handsome copy of the first edition of Racine to use de Sève's illustrations. According to Ray, "In these stately volumes, Jacques de Sève did for Racine what Boucher had done for Molière". De Sève was an accomplished painter who rarely undertook work as an illustrator: these volumes are perhaps his greatest achievement in this field. Cohen-de Ricci 846-7, giving two differing plate counts ("Très belle édition"); Ray French 60 ("an almost faultless achievement"). (3)