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Tasso Gerusalemme Liberata 1771 Paris Gravelot Plates
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Tasso Gerusalemme Liberata 1771 Paris Gravelot Plates
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Offered is one of three chef-d’oeuvres of the illustrated book that I have listed this week, the great 1771 ‘Gerusalemme Liberata,’ of Torquato Tasso, one of Gravelot’s masterworks of book illustration, printed at Paris in two octavo volumes by Delalain, Durand, and Molini, beautifully bound in 18th century burgundy mottled calf, and adorned with 2 engraved frontispieces engraved by Henriquez after Gravelot, 2 engraved titles by Druot after Gravelot (with fleurons by Patas and Mesnil), an engraved dedication plate by Le Roy after Gravelot, 20 full-page plates, 23 ‘culs-de-lamps’ (9 of which are essentially full-page engravings) and 20 vignette portraits, all after Gravelot and engraved by Bacquoy, Duclos, Henriquez, Leveau, Lingee, Nee, Ponce, Simonet and others. The two volumes are complete in all respects and may be referenced as Brunet V at 667 and Cohen-de-Ricci 974 and Ray 22. �The full title reads as follows: �“La Gerusalemme Liberata di Torquato Tasso / Tomo Primo [Secundo] / In Parigi / M.DCC.LXXI [1771]. / AppreBo { Agostino Delalain, / Pietro Durand, / Gio: Claudio Molini.” �Amongst those who profess expertise in the matter, this work is universally recognized as one of the masterpieces of 18th century French illustration and as one of the great illustrated literary publications. Both Cohen and Ray are generous with their praise, calling the plates and engravings extremely beautiful. The vignette portraits and the full-page scenes from the poem are wonderful in their vivacity, detail and accuracy. That said, it is undoubtedly the depictions of putti re-enacting scenes from Tasso’s epic poem that constitute Gravelot’s greatest triumph. They are some of the most affecting and charming scenes in any illustrated work, and they manage a lightly mocking air that makes this edition perhaps the most delightful of any edition of the ‘Gerusalemme Liberata.’ �As is well known, Tasso’s ‘Gerusalemme Liberata’ is one of the two great epic poems to come out of the Italian Renaissance, the other being Ariosto’s ‘Orlando Furioso.’ Tasso’s poem, modeled with scrupulous attention to detail upon the epics of Homer and Virgil, tells in 20 cantos the story of the conquest of Jerusalem by Godfrey of Bouillon.� The characters of Godfrey, Rinaldo and Tancred have retained their fame in Western literature. �The two volumes are complete in all respects and are paginated (8), 331, (1); (6), 340, plus the 20 full-page engraved plates. Each volume measures about 22.4 cm by 15.4 cm by 3.5 cm; each leaf measures about 218 mm by 146 mm. �The two volumes are beautifully bound in full 18th century burgundy mottled calf, with gilt borders, gilt turn-ins, the original hand-marbled endpapers, and richly gilt spines. The spines are divided by raised bands into 6 compartments, with the original black morocco labels in the second and third compartments from the head. The bindings are in excellent condition, with strong book-blocks and strong hinges. Three of the four outer hinges are well intact, while the front hinge of the first volume is holding very firmly by the cords. The gilt is quite fresh and the leather upon the boards is unusually free of wear. There is only very minor wear at the edges and corners, and the beginnings of splitting at the heads and feet of the hinges. There is also very slight lifting of the leather of the front board at the hinge. Taken generally, the bindings remain remarkably attractive. �Internally, the volumes are also in excellent condition, with clean pages, clear print and ample margins throughout. The plates and engravings are excellent, crisp impressions throughout. There is very minor toning of a few leaves, and very minor offsetting of a few plates, but this is nonetheless a very pleasing copy. �In all, this is a wonderful example of the great 1771 ‘Gerusalemme Liberata,’ of Torquato Tasso, one of Gravelot’s masterworks of book illustration, printed at Paris in two octavo volumes by Delalain, Durand, and Molini,... 
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