DE ARTE GRAPHICA. THE ART OF PAINTING, with Remarks. Translated into English Together with an Original Preface containing A Parallel betwixt Painting and Poetry. By Mr. Dryden. As also a Short Account of the most Eminent Painters both Ancient and Modern, continu'd down to the Present Times, according to the Order of their Succession. By another Hand.

Fresnoy, C.A.; Dryden [John] Mr.

Published by London J. Heptinstall for W. Rogers, at the Sun against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet 1695

About this Item

First Edition. Illustrated with a handsome engraved frontispice by H, Cooke and S. Gribelin. Quarto, handsomely bound in antique mottled calf, the spine with raised bands gilt ruled, red morocco lettering label gilt, the covers with double gilt fillet rules at the borders. lxiv, 355, [1 Errata] pp. A fine copy, the binding tight and very well preserved with little evidence of age, an old unobtrusive blindstamp signifying past ownership to the title, the text clean and crisp. A very well preserved copy. FIRST EDITION. Although the pagination runs continuously throughout the volume, the 'Short account of the most eminent painters' has its own title-page ( which reads: 'A Short Account Of the most Eminent Painters Both Ancient and Modern, Continu'd down to the Present Times According to the Order of their Succession. London, Printed for W. Rogers at the Sun against St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet. 1695.'). Du Fresnoy's Latin poem was originally published shortly after his death in 1668. It was followed by translations into French (1668), English (prose) (1695), German (1699), Italian (1713) and Dutch (1733). Du Fresnoy opens his poem by declaring that 'As poetry shall be like a painting, so should painting be like poetry'. Beauty should be interpreted in different ways - as may be seen in such famous ancient statues as the Antinous, the Hercules, the Venus, the dying Gladiator. Besides Dryden's translation of Du Fresnoy's poem, the present volume includes a translation of the Remarks with which Roger de Piles accompanied his French version of the poem (1668). Dryden's famous preface Parallel of Poetry and Painting stands on its own as one of the author's most respected works. The first appearance of Richard Graham's chronology of eminent artists, both ancient and modern is presented here with its own title-page. While President of the Royal Academy, Sir Joshua Reynolds published extensive notes on Du Fresnoy's Art of Painting (in William Mason's new translation) (1783). Royal Academy Contents: [T.-pl., t.-p.] - Preface Of The Translator, With a Parallel, Of Poetry and Painting - The Preface Of The French Author - A Table of the Precepts Contain'd in this Treatise - [Text, in Latin and English] - Observations On The Art of Painting Of Charles Alphonse du Fresnoy - The Judgment of Charles Alphonse du Fresnoy, On the Works of the Principal and Best Painters of the two last Ages - [Divisional title-page, 'A Short Account Of the most Eminent Painters Both Ancient and Modern . London, Printed for W. Rogers at the Sun against St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet. 1695'] - The Preface - Ancient Masters - Modern Masters - Ancient (Modern) Masters [indices] - Errata.

Seller Inventory # 34244

Bibliographic Details

• Title: DE ARTE GRAPHICA. THE ART OF PAINTING, with Remarks. Translated into English Together with an Original Preface containing A Parallel betwixt Painting and Poetry. By Mr. Dryden. As also a Short Account of the most Eminent Painters both Ancient and Modern, continu'd down to the Present Times, according to the Order of their Succession. By another Hand.
• Publisher: London J. Heptinstall for W. Rogers, at the Sun against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet 1695
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition