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First edition in Catalan (Llull's native tongue) and the first edition with Campany aquatints. One of XVI special copies. Text printed in Catalan (Llull is known for being among the first authors to use his vernacular language, Catalan, to communicate his ideas. Folio (). 175, [1] pp. with 11 full page hand-colored etchings (drawn, engraved and colored by the artist) and ten large chapter headings, all signed in pencil by the artist. Loose as issued in vellum-backed chemise with gilt spine lettering. Housed in a custom acrylic slipcase. A wonderful copy.This is a Catalan translation of Llull's 1305 (although first published in 1512) work entitled Liber de Ascensu et Descensu Intellectus (The Book of the Ascent and Descent of the Intellect). Ramon Llull is often thought of as an alchemist of the first order but strictly speaking he was a philosopher/theologian. His magnum opus, Ars Magna displays his chief theme; the understanding of eternal truths by way of the intellect. While not himself an alchemist, the seekers of the philosopher's stone were very influenced by Llull's ideas. In this book Llull describes the movement of the intellect through the many levels of understanding, which some Renaissance alchemists such as Heinrich Khunrath interpreted as analogous to the transmutation process in alchemy. This striking volume was issued in an edition of 165 copies. This copy is one of XVI (#VII) copies containing an original drawing of one of the plates or of 2 of the vignettes, a complete set of the proofs, a series of sanguine proofs of the plates and the vignettes, and the final proof of all the plates. It is the most desired format. Ramon de Capmany y de Montaner (1899 - 1992), was a Catalan painter, engraver and bibliophile. He trained as a painter at the Escuela de la Lonja, where he studied under the supervision of Francesc Labarta. He was one of the members of the the Evolutionists, and one of the regulars of the Sala Pares. The Evolutionists were an artistic group from Barcelona in the aesthetic sphere of Noucentisme and who rejected programmatic orthodoxy and, influenced by Cezanne and the Fauvists , developed a personal work, constructed and of austere colors. Mainly a landscape painter, he mostly painted the surroundings of the Montseny Massif and the old part of the city of Barcelona,in a naturalistic style. He also illustrated bibliophile editions [such as this one]. He held the position of curator in the board of the Ateneo Barcelones during the presidency of Pedro Gual Villalbi, between 1952 and 1962. Some of his works can be found in the National Art Museum of Catalonia.One of the proofs of the work, apart from the one designated to be signed by the artist , is dedicated by Capmany to a Mr. Riera with the following words: ?Prueba dedicada al Sr. Riera por el artista. Ramon Campmany.? An original steel etched plate [one used in the making of this volume] comes with the work. It?s an additional object, and no other copies have such a plate. This plate was a gift from the artist to the same Mr. Riera.
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