- 61
Lorrain, Claude [i.e. Claude Gellée]
Estimate
5,000 - 8,000 GBP
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Description
- Lorrain, Claude [i.e. Claude Gellée]
- Liber veritatis. Or, A collection of two hundred prints, after the original designs of Claude le Lorrain in the collection of His Grace the Duke of Devonshire. John Boydell [volumes I-II] and Thomas Davison for Hurst, Robinson, and Co. [volume III], 1777-1819
- Paper
3 volumes, folio (415 x 271mm), mezzotint frontispiece portraits of Claude Lorrain (volume I) and of Richard Earlom and John Boydell (both volume III), 300 etched mezzotint and aquatint plates by Earlom after Claude printed in bistre and black, additional variant state of volume I, plate 17 loosely inserted, contemporary crushed green morocco gilt, covers bordered by foliate rolls within broad and narrow rules and pointille rolls, gilt turn-ins, spines gilt in compartments, edges gilt, occasional light browning and spotting, volume III plates 6 and 94 trimmed across platemark, small loss to upper cover of volume I affecting gilt border, other covers and extremities lightly rubbed, spines faded
Provenance
British Museum (inkstamps on verso of volume I title and verso of volume II, plate 200; 'Duplicate for Sale' blindstamp on margin of volume II, plate 200); from the library of Beriah Botfield at Longleat, sale at Christie's, 13th June 2002, lot 82
Literature
Brunet III, 1169; Cohen-De Ricci col.242; Lewine p.325; Lowndes p.1398; Abbey Life 200 (calling for pp.[1]-14 in vol.I rather than pp.[1]-12 as here)
Condition
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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
A landmark in the history of reproduction of master drawings (Abbey).
The Liber veritatis contains 300 reproductions of drawings by Claude Lorrain, 200 of them in the collection of the Dukes of Devonshire and the remainder from the great English collections of the day. Each volume is accompanied by a catalogue giving a comprehensive description of the works (transcribed and translated from Claude's own annotations) as well as details about when, and for whom, the works were painted and the names of their current owners. The purpose of the book was to provide Claude with a private record of his works and their owners; it also served to distinguish genuine works from forgeries or works wrongly attributed to him.
The Liber veritatis contains 300 reproductions of drawings by Claude Lorrain, 200 of them in the collection of the Dukes of Devonshire and the remainder from the great English collections of the day. Each volume is accompanied by a catalogue giving a comprehensive description of the works (transcribed and translated from Claude's own annotations) as well as details about when, and for whom, the works were painted and the names of their current owners. The purpose of the book was to provide Claude with a private record of his works and their owners; it also served to distinguish genuine works from forgeries or works wrongly attributed to him.