[Views of Rome]

This stunning album of views in Rome features 42 fine views (exterior and interior) of noted Roman landmarks and scenes around the city, laid down on tan album leaves. Although the Morgan Library has identified their copy of this work as an album of drawings, they are in fact etchings, superbly hand-colored in watercolor (sepia, brown, and blue) at Minelli's workshop in Rome. The images feature a black border applied by hand, and though they vary in size and orientation, measure roughly 130 x 87mm on average. The first leaf (which the Morgan lists as a frontispiece) reads 'Deodatus/ Minelli/ Neg/ Roma/ MDCCCXXXII'. [2], 42 numbered leaves, [8 blank leaves], one leaf of holograph captions at rear. Although the album is ascribed to Minelli, one image features Busuttil's name (he often collaborated with Minelli), and another a partial name of another artist. Bound in the original brown calf, spine and covers tooled in gilt, marbled endpapers (some rubbing, front inner hinge split). PROVENANCE: features the ownership inscription: 'Mrs. Mary Luzenberg Rome June 17th 1833'. Mary Clement Luzenberg (1798-1881), was a longtime resident of New Orleans, Louisana. …