Vasari, Giorgio

3 volumes in 2 (parts 1 and 2 bound together, 4to (208 x 133mm.), 2 title-pages within architectural woodcut border including a view of the city of Florence, woodcut illustration  (bound at end) and initials, seventeeth-century speckled calf, spines gilt in compartments, foot of second title-page excised (not touching woodcut frame), rebacked retaining original spine, joints and ends of spines worn

library stamp at foot of first title-page with the arms of a cardinal; C. Bertrand Thompson, sale in these rooms, 1 June 1948, lot 1129, bought by Eisemann for £38; Hans (1904-1951) and Carmen Gronau (1910-1999), both art historians

Hans and Carmen Gronau left Germany for London in the 1930s and in 1946 Hans became a consultant for the Old Masters department at Sotheby's. Due to ill health his work was increasingly carried out by Carmen who was taken on by Sotheby's in 1948. After Hans's death in 1951, Carmen and the then chairman of Sotheby's, Peter Wilson, turned Sotheby's into the premier auction house for paintings in the post-war period. Carmen was responsible for the opening of the Florence office, whose first sale in 1963 was the contents of the prestigious Villa Demidoff.

Censimento 16 CNCE 34580

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

First edition of Vasari's seminal work of artistic biography, which concentrated on the three major arts, architecture, painting and sculpture. His emphasis on the artists of Florence and his coining of the term "Renaissance" ("rinascità") had a great influence upon later art historians and the concept of the artistic Florentine Renaissance.

As a biographer Vasari resorted to using gossip and scandal as sources for his work but he produced an invaluable mine of information about artists who would otherwise have been unknown and ignored, as well as about the giants of Italian Renaissance art.