A complete set in 8 total volumes: 523, 558, 759, 747, 714, 856, 608, & 660 pp. dictionary of mythological names and objects, profusely illustrated. Large octavo (8 7/8 x 6 inches). Vellum-backed green marbled boards, gilt-stamped title labels to spines. Some light abrasions to covers, minor edgewear, some scattered dust-staining and toning, extremely minor foxing, overall very good. Milano: Batelli e Fanfani, 1809-1827. Brunet, 22542.

This voluminous dictionary is based on François Noel's Dictionnaire de la fable, originally published in 1801. The work was first undertaken by Pozzoli, but upon his premature death, it was continued and revised by Felice Romani, an Italian poet, scholar, and opera librettist, and Antonio Peracchi. It offered an inexhaustible source of information to the numerous painters and sculptors of the Classical Revival who used classical or symbolic themes in their art. This dictionary covers ancient and modern mythologies including those of Egypt, Greece, Rome, Scandinavia/Norse, India, Mesopotamia, Peru, Etruscan, Mexico, China, Africa, Islam, and others.

The most striking feature of the set, other than its sheer size and depth of information, is the hundreds of engraved plates by Italian artists after paintings, sculptures, and coins of the past, many of which have been partially or completely hand-colored. There are a total of 370 numbered plates spread across the volumes, several folding, with some bound seemingly out of order. The additional unnumbered plate counts appear to be as follows: Volume I: 17 plates; Volume II: 13 plates, including 1 folding; Volume III: 28 plates, including 1 folding; Volume IV: 24 plates, including 1 folding; Volume V: 22 plates; Volume VI: 25 plates, including 1 folding; Supplementary Volume I: 10 plates, including 3 folding; and Supplementary Volume II: 47 plates, including 2 folding, for a total of approximately 556 plates. We have noted that the plate counts of this dictionary vary from set to set, with no two having the same exact number of plates.

Scarce institutionally.

Book ID: 53690

Price: $7,500.00