A Series of Progressive Lessons, intended to elucidate the art of flower painting in water colours

HILL, John (1770-1850, engraver); François Louis Thomas FRANCIA (1772-1839, author, attributed)

Published by Thomas Desilver, Philadelphia, 1820

(10 1/2 x 8 inches). 12 aquatint plates (10 hand coloured, 2 uncoloured). Publisher's half red morocco over tan paper boards, original letterpress label on the upper cover A rare American colour plate book and an important art instruction book containing engravings by John Hill. The work was published in four editions (1818, 1820, 1835 and 1836), with all editions now rare. The beautiful plates were drawn, aquatinted and coloured by the English-born Philadelphia artist John Hill. Born in London in 1770, Hill apprenticed as an engraver in his youth and developed a keen interest in the aquatinting process. In 1798, he began working independently in London, primarily producing aquatints for book illustrations. Facing financial pressures to support his family, Hill immigrated to Philadelphia in 1816, quickly becoming a prominent figure in aquatint artistry in the United States. In Philadelphia, Hill, along with his family, engaged in engraving and hand-coloring prints. His son, John William Hill, also became a skilled painter and engraver. Hill's significant contribution to aquatint in the U.S. was marked by his major commission, "Picturesque Views of American Scenery" (1820-1821), which is regarded as the first major plate book published in the country. Following this success, he collaborated on the "Hudson River Portfolio" (1821-1825), featuring views of New York State. In the present work, Hill skillfully represented elements essential to the instruction of the art of flower painting such as the 'light,' 'half-tint,' 'shade,' and 'reflecting tint' all precisely depicted in a fine example in Plate 1. The author of the text is believed to have been the French watercolour painter Francois Louis Thomas Francia. "This book of lessons on flower painting started a movement marked by the publication of other excellent books of instruction in the same art, and by the painting of an incalculable number of flower pieces by an army of [female] amateur artists" (Drepperd). Koke 59; Drepperd, "American Drawing Books" in New York Public Library Bulletin, November 1945, p. 798; Bennett p. 55; Schimmelman 510; Shaw & Shoemaker 45685; Grace and Wallace, p. 315. Seller Inventory # 25968

Bibliographic Details

Title: A Series of Progressive Lessons, intended to...
Publisher: Thomas Desilver, Philadelphia
Publication Date: 1820
Binding: 4to