Choix De Costumes Civils Et Militaires Des Peuples De L'Antiquité, Leurs Instrumens De Musique, Leurs Meubles, Et Les Décorations Intérieurs De Leurs Maisons, D'Après Les Monumens Antiques, Avec Un Texte Tiré Des Anciens Auteurs; Dessiné, Gravé Et Rédigé Par N.X. Willemin. Tome Premier. (Second.)
RA Collection: Book
Record number
06/6030
Imprint
A Paris,: Chez {L'Auteur, au Musée des Monumens français, rue des Petits-Augustins, fauxbourg Germain. Guot, graveur, rue de la Monnaie, no 20. - De L'Imprimerie De Pierre Plassan. -, L'An VI De La République. - 1798. (- 1802.)
Physical Description
2 vols. [in one]; 463 mm. (Folio.)
General Note
Vol. I: 108 p., 78 pl. (incl. add. engr. t.pl.). - Vol. II: 19, [1] p., 102 pl. (incl. t.pl.).
Contents
Vol. I: [Add. t.pl., half-t. (with 'Decret ...' on verso), t.p.] - Introduction (with pl. 13, 14 - as required by the 'Avis Au Relieur') - [Text, 'Choix De Costumes ... De L'Afrique'] - [Plates 2-12] - Notice Des Douze Premières Planches ... - Avertissement - Index - Supplément Au Texte De L'Afrique - Notice Des Deux Planches De Supplément De L'Afrique (i.e. pl. 13, 14) - [Text, 'Choix De Costumes ... De L'Asie'] - [Plates 15-28] - Notice Des Quatorze Planches Qui Composent L'Asie - [Text, 'Choix De Costumes ... De L'Europe'] - [Pl. 29-78] - Notice Des Vingt-Quatre Planches Composant Les Costumes Des Femmes Grecques; Notice Des Vingt-Trois Planches Composant Les Costumes Des Grecs - Avis Au Relieur; Première Liste Des Souscripteurs; [colophon]. - Vol. II: [T.pl.] - Observations - Notice Des Planches Qui Composent Le Deuxième Volume - Table Des Matières - Seconde Liste Des Souscripteurs; [colophon] - [Plates 2-102].
Responsibility Note
All plates are signed as drawn and engraved by Willemin - except the title-plate of Vol. I and pl. 102 of Vol. II, which are unsigned, and pl. 19 of Vol. II which is signed merely as engraved by him. The title-plate of Vol. II. is additionally signed by the script-writer, Lachaussée.
The title-plate of Vol. I. carries the imprint of the printer Demonceaux.
The text printer is named not only on the title page of Vol. I but also in the two colophons: 'De L'Imprimerie De Plassan, Imprimeur De La Grande-Chancellerie De La Légion D'Honneur.'
References
Studies of 'Empire' style include H. Honour, Neo-classicism (rev. 1977); C. Isermeyer, Empire (1977); G. Jannean, L'Empire (1965).
Summary Note
The publication-date of Volume II is given on its title-plate, 'L'An X. de la République Française, 1802.'
Willemin's drawings are among the many studies of ancient Greek costume and decoration which contributed to the development of the Neoclassical style in Europe, and particularly that phase of it which became known as French Empire.
Provenance
On a preliminary leaf is pasted a cutting from the grey wrapper, which has the prinnted title of the work and is inscribed in ink, 'Richd Westmacott'. The same leaf is inscribed in ink, 'The gift of the widow of the late Richd Westmacott RA to the Library of the Royal Academy August 1872. S:A: Hart RA Librarian'.
Binding Note
19th-century half brown morocco, dark brown cloth-covered boards; gilt-decorated spine lettered 'Willemin Costumes Civils Et Militaires' and 'R.A.'
Costume - Dress - Furniture - Antiquities - Interior decoration - Greece - Egypt - History
Art history - France - 18th century - 19th century
Pattern books - France - 18th century - 19th century - Neoclassical - Empire (style)
Pictorial works - France - 18th century - 19th century