A Journey to Rome and Naples, Performed in 1817; Giving an Account of the Present State of Society in Italy; and Containing Observations on the Fine Arts

A very rare account of an artist's trip to Italy in 1817, written by the founder of the important art school Sass's Academy, Henry Sass. The first and only edition of this very scarce travel work.In a contemporary half calf binding, with diced calf spine and marbled paper covered boards and endpapers.Henry Sass, an English artist and teacher of painting and founder of Sass's Academy (later "Cary's Academy") chronicles here his travels to and around Rome and Naples. He was in Italy for a total of two years, journeying there the same year of his marriage. He honestly comments on the French's ridicule of the untravelled English, the architecture of Turin, the unfamiliar custom of men kissing cheeks, Italian scenery, Venice night scene, his disillusionment with Rome and the selection of paintings and sculptures.Sass's Academy is caricatured in the novel "The Newcomes" byThackeray, who was once a student at the school. In a contemporary half calf binding, with diced calf spine and marbled paper covered boards. Externally, fading and rubbing to the extremities, with loss to the head of the spine. Lifting to the spine tail. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are generally bright and clean, with occasional light spots. Good.…