Fine Books from a Distinguished Private Library

Fine Books from a Distinguished Private Library

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 46. Salomon Kleiner | Residences memorables. Augsburg, 1731-1740; 1734.

Salomon Kleiner | Residences memorables. Augsburg, 1731-1740; 1734

Auction Closed

November 28, 01:19 PM GMT

Estimate

3,000 - 5,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Salomon Kleiner


Residences memorables de l’incomparable heros de nôtre siecle ou representation exacte des edifices et jardins de… Prince Eugene Francois Duc de Savoye et de Piemont [bound with] Representation des animaux de la menagerie de S.A.S. Francois de Savoye et de Piemont. Augsburg: Heirs of Jeremie Wolff, 1731-1740; 1734


FIRST EDITIONS, 2 works bound in one volume, folio (350 x 525) mm., 11 engraved calligraphic title pages in French and German (10 in first work, one in second), text in French and German, one engraved dedication leaf at beginning of the first work, 102 FINE ENGRAVED PLATES after Kleiner, 90 in the first work (9 folding) and 12 in the second, nineteenth century marbled paper boards, recently rebacked and recornered in calf, flat spine with black morocco label, marbled endpapers, untrimmed edges, occasional browning and foxing


These fine engravings depict a masterpiece of Baroque architecture: the Belvedere Palace and Gardens in Vienna, summer home of Prince Eugene of Savoy. The masterwork of architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt, Belvedere is displayed here in all its glory, in artist Salomon Kleiner’s detailed engravings of the exterior, the garden, and the many splendid rooms. The second work is an extremely charming view of the prince’s menagerie, filled with exotic animals and plants.


Born into a noble French family--and even rumoured to be the illegitimate son of Louis XIV-- Eugene (1663-1736) was thwarted in his military ambitions by the Sun King’s disfavour. Consequently, he moved to Austria and offered his services to the Holy Roman Emperor. He became field marshal of the Austrian army, teacher of Frederick the Great. The reward Eugene received for his military success enabled him to become a patron of Baroque architecture; the Belvedere, planned and constructed by the most distinguished architects, engineers, landscapers, and decorators, was the grandest of his residences, and a worthy rival to his nemesis Louis XIV’s Versailles. Kleiner’s scenes show the beautiful palace and grounds enlivened by fashionable figures, of the sort Prince Eugene entertained at his many hunting parties. The delightful menagerie established in 1617 comes to life in Kleiner’s engravings, depicting chatty parrots, stately elk, many exotic birds, mischievous apes, and a regal and rather disdainful lion.


REFERENCES: Berlin Katalog 2117; Lipperheide 686; Graesse IV, 28; Nissen ZBI 2212 (second work only)