WINCKELMANN (Johann-Joachim). - Lot 33

WINCKELMANN (Johann-Joachim). Art history of antiquity. Leipzig: the author, Jean Gottl. Imman. Breitkopf, 1781. - 3 volumes in-4, havana half calf with corners, spine ribbed, marbled edges (period binding). First edition of the second French translation by the man of letters Michael Huber (1727-1804), of this major book, considered the encyclopedia of the arts of drawing in antiquity. Winckelmann, a German writer and archaeologist, is considered one of the founders of modern art history. His doctrine is that "the only way we can be great, or even inimitable if possible, is to imitate the Ancients." He advocated a knowledge of ancient objects and works in relation to the study of the social, religious or climatic context in which they were created. All his work revolutionized archaeological studies, as it provided a framework for the classification of ancient works based on stylistic evolution. This "History of Antiquity" is undoubtedly his masterwork. It was first published in French in 1766, but the author was not happy with the translation. This 1781 edition begins with an extensive preface and, above all, a long biography of the author. It is illustrated with a frontispiece engraved by Adam Friedrich Oeser (1717-1799), 3 title vignettes, 27 bandeaux and 27 culs-de-lampe engraved by Christian Gottlieb Geyser (1742-1803) and Medardus Thoenert (1754-1814), among others. The epistle to Léopold-Frédéric-François prince d'Anhalt-Dessau has been placed here between pages CLXXXVI and CLXXXVII. Restorations to spines, endpapers renewed. Upper part of the false title of the first volume cut out and restored. Signature crossed out on titles. Freckles and browned leaves. Some rare wetness. Some pencil annotations in English. Provenance: G. Woods, with signature on title of volumes 1 and 3. - James Whittle, with bookplate.