Guillaume Abel Blouet | Expédition scientifique de Morée, 1831-1838, 3 volumes, folio, red half morocco

Property of a Gentleman

Guillaume Abel Blouet (and others)

Expédition scientifique de Morée, ordonnée par le gouvernement français. Architecture, sculptures, inscriptions et vues du Péloponèse, des Cyclades et de l'Attique. Paris: Firmin Didot frères, 1831-1838

FIRST AND ONLY EDITION, 3 volumes, folio (580 x 398mm.), 3 half-titles, 3 engraved additional titles, and 262 plates, those in volume 2 printed on india paper and mounted, 6 double-page or folding, many showing two or more subjects, modern red half morocco, a few plates slightly spotted, occasional slight discolouration or spotting to text, a few plates in volume 3 slightly shorter, plates 52-57 in volume 3 plain (usually coloured), final plate in volume becoming detached

"This important work marked a turning point in the history of archaeological studies and served as a model for works of a similar kind" (Blackmer).

The Morea Scientific Expedition arrived in Greece in March 1829, with the intention to research the region's architecture, archaeology and natural sciences. The archaeology section was disbanded after two months but its work was included with that of the architectural section directed by the distinguished architect Guillaume Abel Blouet. "The plan of the work follows the itinerary of the expedition, which included Byzantine, early Christian and medieval antiquities, along with more exhaustive surveys of the principal classical remains at Pylos, Messene, Olympia, Phigalia, Megalopolis, Sparta, Argos, Mycenae, Nemea and Corinth, and on the islands of Delos, Naxos, Aegina and Cape Sounion (Sunium). Particular attention is given to the temples of Jupiter at Olympia, of Apollo at Bassae, near Phigalia and of Jupiter on the island of Aegina. Blouet and his colleagues were the first archaeologists to identify the ruin of the temple at Olympia as the famous temple of Jupiter described by Pausanias" (BAL RIBA).

LITERATURE:

Blackmer, 153