Recherches sur les costumes et sur les theatres de toutes les nations, tant anciennes que modernes; ouvrage utile aux peintres, statuaires, architectes, decorateurs, comediens, costumiers, en un mot aux artistes de tous les genres
Paris: Drouhin, 1790
First edition. Two quarto volumes (overall 253 x 203 mm; the pages 244 x 190 mm) bound in one (with separate paginations), complete. Illustrated with 55 full-page plates, all but one printed rectos or versos only, after Philippe Chéry by Alix, Ridé, Sergent, Villeneuve and Carré, of which 44 are printed from aquatint plates in full color and five are touched with color highlights (the titles state: “Estampes en couleur at au lavis”). Contemporary mottled calf gilt, spine in six compartments with raised bands, two with tan morocco labels tooled and lettered, the others with flower tool between tendril rolls, red and green patterned paper endleaves, all edges stained red. Printed on very fine, white laid paper, with wide margins; platemarks and registration points all visible; remnant of original green silk marker ribbon present. Collates vol. I: [2 l.], 1 l. (title), 1 l. (frontispiece), a4 = 8 pp. (observations préliminaries), A4 -T4 = 150 pp., 1 l. (errata), plus 29 ll. with 30 additional plates; vol. II: 1 l. (title), A4 -Y4 = 175 + [1] pp., [2 l.], plus 24 ll. plates; original guards of very thin laid paper on all but two plates. The plates facing p. 82 in vol. I (Esther) and p. 84 in vol. II (Titus; actually intended to face p. 66) are fully colored proofs before all text. Light wear to extremities of binding, top of spine chipped, joints worn and partially cracked, internally tight, bright and generally fine, a few small tears or imperfections in the guard leaves, the plates sharp and unblemished. The characters, costumes and decoration include designs for Andromaque, Bérénice, Britannicus, Esther and other plays in the Théâtre de Racine: see our Oeuvres de Racine at http://www.mobysnewt.com/Item_Racine.html. Cohen-de Ricci 227; Colas 717; Vinet 2108.
Provenance: Louis Jouvet (1887-1951; his bookplate on front pastedown),
French actor and director, one of the pillars of French filmmaking and theater
during the first half of the twentieth century; vente Louis Jouvet, succession
Lisa Jouvet (Drouot Richelieu, 2005).
View more images of this item
Price: $2,400
Inquiries: mail@mobysnewt.com
