Leonardo da Vinci, Traitté de la peinture, Paris, 1651, contemporary carta rustica, uncut

Leonardo da Vinci. Traitté de la peinture de Leonard de Vinci donné au public et traduit d'italien en françois par R.F. S. D.C. Paris: Jacques Langlois, 1651

An uncut copy of the first edition of Leonardo's Trattato, translated by Roland Fréart de Chambray.

For a full account of the creation of Leonardo's Trattato and the first printings, see the catalogue note to lot 549, and for a copy of the Italian first edition, see lot 552.

Folio (415 x 290 mm), uncut. Roman and italic type, 44 lines plus headline. collation: â⁴ +⁴ ++² A-Q⁴: 74 leaves, text leaves with the watermark of the arms of Cardinal Richelieu. Engraved frontispiece portrait of Leonardo, engraved vignette on title-page, engraved initial, head- and tailpieces, engraved illustrations within decorative frames, some engraved by René Lochon after designs by Poussin reworked by Charles Errard. (Occasional light browning or spotting, paper flaw in N1, small marginal tear in P4.)

binding: Contemporary carta rustica (425 x 308 mm), foredge flaps, plain edges. In a modern drop-backed folding box. (Small tears to spine and foredge flaps, binding slightly soiled.)

acquisition: Purchased in 2013 from Benjamin Spademan, London.