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an open book with a picture of a bunch of flowers on ittwo books sitting on top of each other on a white surfacetwo books stacked on top of each other on a white surfacean open box with a book inside of it on a white surfacean old book with four pictures of people in different outfitsan old book with two pictures of a man and a womanan open book with a drawing of a castle in the background
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859 - JEAN-BAPTISTE LE PRINCE (1734–1781)
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Estimate €3,000 - €4,000
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Description
JEAN-BAPTISTE LE PRINCE (1734–1781) Works by Jean Baptiste Le Prince, Painter to the King, containing over one hundred and sixty plates etched in aquatint, and in the style of drawings washed in bistre; all based on his compositions, depicting various costumes and attire of different peoples of the North, where this famous artist spent some time. Paris: Basan Frères, 1782. Containing over one hundred and sixty plates engraved in etching and in the style of bister-washed drawings; all based on his compositions, depicting various costumes and garments of different peoples of the North, where this famous artist stayed for some time. 163 plates engraved on 53 leaves; folio (57.3 x 42.7 cm). 19th-century half-calf binding, leather spine and corners, spine decorated with gilt metal fittings. Good condition. Slight rubbing and a tear on the spine; minor soiling and rubbing on the leaves, without affecting the illustrations. Heraldic ex-libris engraved on the endpaper: ‘Iz knig L.V. Islavina’ [From the books of L.V. Islavine]. The French painter and engraver Jean-Baptiste Le Prince (1734–1781), a pupil of François Boucher, painted genre scenes, landscapes and portraits. He lived in Russia from 1757 to 1762. As well as St Petersburg and Moscow, he visited Ukraine and Siberia, where he produced numerous ethnographic sketches which later served as the basis for his works. He depicted the lives of Russian peasants, focusing particularly on traditional dress and interiors, and lending his scenes an exotic touch. The album contains one hundred and sixty-three etchings and aquatints depicting the traditional dress and daily life of the various peoples of Russia. Bibliography: Soloviev N. Rare Books. Catalogue no. 105, no. 367: ‘An exceedingly rare edition of the works of this artist, who lived in Russia for many years and devoted most of his engravings to our homeland. Superb prints on the finest heavy paper’. Provenance: Lev Vladimirovich Islavine (1866–1934), diplomat, then State Councillor, cousin of Sofia Andreyevna, wife of Leo Tolstoy. Appointed vice-consul in Vienna in 1897, he served as consul in Rome from 1901, consul-general in Nice from 1904, and then in Vienna from 1907 to 1914. An amateur painter, bibliophile and collector, he was one of the founders of the N.V. Gogol Russian Reading Room (library) in Rome (now part of the National Central Library of Rome). At the buyer’s request, we shall be happy to provide a general report on the condition of the lot described above. However, as we are not professional conservators or restorers, we strongly advise potential buyers to carry out their own inspection or to consult a specialist of their choice to obtain a full assessment of the lot’s condition. Descriptions of items provided in the catalogue or by correspondence are for information purposes only and should not be regarded as a definitive assessment. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSION REGARDING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD ‘AS IS’, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE PUBLISHED IN THE CATALOGUE.
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About the sale RARE BOOKS & MANUSCRIPTS: Antique books § Autographs, rare editions, photographs § Works on paper
Auction location
Auction time 10/29/2026 at 2:30 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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