TWO DISCOURSES. I AN ESSAY ON THE WHOLE ART OF CRITICISM AS IT RELATES TO PAINTING. II. AN ARGUMENT ON BEHALF OF THE SCIENCE OF A CONNOSSEUR; Wherein is shewn the Dignity, Certainty , Pleasure and Advantage of it.

RICHARDSON, Mr. (Jonathan)

Published by W. Churchill at the Black Swan in Pater-Noster-Row, London, 1719

Title of first essay continues: 'Shewing how the judge I. Of the Goodness of a Picture; II.Of the Hand of the Masters; and III. Whether 'tis an Original, or a Copy'. Main t.p.+(10, Contents)+(2, 'To the Reader', errata on verso)+ t.p. of first discourse headed 'The Connoisseur'+1-220 (nice engr. tailpiece on p.220)+t.p. to second discourse, slightly altered: 'A Discourse on the Dignity, Certainty and Advantage of the Science of a Connoisseur'+234 (this inc.t.p.)+(2 Churchill's pub.list), again a nice tailpiece to p.234, also an engr. headpiece to first discourse p.150. Main textblock is tight and apparently unmarked, lower half of rear gutter opening after pub.list, the two end-blanks, endpapers and pastedowns are unfortunately dust marked, this resists any extensive erasure although I made slight headway in places, this is especially bad on back leaves where it is augmented by a 2 brown spots per side, the front blank fly is only slightly affected as is verso front end-paper and main t.p.has faint hints only,but recto front end-paper and pastedown are again badly affected, front gutter incipiently opening to lower section and 3.5 cm. crack at bottom of joint externally; covers a little dull but tooling remains visible, c.2 cm hole in leather to back, panelled spine very dark, lacking label and bottom edge a little chipped. All text-block edges appear to be red-tinted but top too dust-darkened to make out. Inner thickness of text-block is c.2.5 cms but outer thickness c.3 cms even when tightly squeezed. This is one the pioneering works of English art criticism, appreciation and connoisseurship and the 1719 first edition appears far scarcer than 1725 or later ones. The internal condition is I think excellent and the end blanks and binding are at least very secure despite their serious aesthetic shortcomings. The author's forename does not actually appear, though is in no doubt. Size: 12.5 Cm x 19 .5 Cm. Seller Inventory # 011935

Bibliographic Details

Title: TWO DISCOURSES. I AN ESSAY ON THE WHOLE ART ...
Publisher: W. Churchill at the Black Swan in Pater-Noster-Row, London
Publication Date: 1719
Binding: Tooled Leather
Condition: Good+ for age
Edition: 1st Edition.