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132
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[HANCARVILLE, Pierre François Hugues d'.]
See original version (French)
132
-
[HANCARVILLE, Pierre François Hugues d'.]
See original version (French)
Estimate €600 - €800
Voluntary lot
Description
[HANCARVILLE, Pierre François Hugues d'.]
Monumens de la vie privée des douze Césars, d'après une suite de pierres gravées sous leur règne.
A Rome, de l'Imprimerie du Vatican, 1786 (1785 on the frontispiece).
In-12 format-4, XII-236 pp. frontispiece, 50 plates. Late 19th century red morocco, spine ribbed, gilt title, small gilt-lettered compartments, gilt fillets bordering the compartments and boards, gilt roulettes and fillets framing the inside covers, gilt edges (corners, edges and spines very slightly rubbed, very light brown spotting and marginal soiling).
A fine copy with very wide margins of this "very free" erotic work, inspired by Roman antiquity.
Illustrated with a neo-antiquist engraved title-frontispiece and 50 drypoint etchings, printed in black on azure laid paper.
A brilliant Fregolian character, Pierre-François Hugues (1719-1805), supposedly Baron d'Hancarville, was a spy, archaeologist, diplomat, historian, archivist and essayist, all driven by a taste for adventure. In Italy, he worked on compiling a catalogue of the antique collection of Sir Hamilton, the British ambassador to Naples between 1764 and 1776, from which he drew much inspiration...
"These works show great erudition on the part of d'Hancarville; but all these engraved stones, medals, etc., are imaginary" (Cohen, 475).
Pia, L'Enfer, 954-959.
CURIOSA. EROTICA.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures modified on 05/26/2026 at 5:14 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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