Diccionario Historico De Los Mas Illustres Profesores De Las Bellas Artes En España. Compuesto Por D. Juan Agustin Cean Bermudez Y Publicado Por La Real Academia De S. Fernando.
The work is dedicated by 'J.A.C.B.' to the Real Academia de San Fernando.
References
Royal Institute of British Architects, British Architectural Library ... Early printed books, I (1994), no. 589, p. 339; A. Bonet Correa et al., Bibliografia de arquitectura, ingenieria y urbanismo en España (1498-1880) (2 v., 1980), 2; R. Gutierrez, Notas para una bibliografia hispanoamericana de arquitectura, 1526-1875 (1973), no. 154.
J. Clisson Aldama, Juan Agustín Ceán Bermúdez (1982); J. Brown, 'Observations on the historiography of seventeenth-century Spanish painting', in Images and ideas in seventeenth-century Spanish painting (1978), p.3-18; F.J. Sánchez Cantón, 'En el centenario de Ceán Bermúdez', in Archv. Esp. A., 23 (1950), p.89-113; W. Stirling-Maxwell, Annals of the artists of Spain (4 v., 1847-8); J.D. Fiorillo, Geschichte der Mahlerey in Spanien (1806).
On the writings of Céspedes see J.M. Brown, 'La teoría del arte de Pablo de Céspedes', in Rev. Ideas Estét., 33/90 (1965), p.19-29.
Summary Note
The half-titles read, 'Diccionario Histórico De Los Mas Illustres Profesores De Las Bellas Artes En España. Tomo Primero. A.B.C. ( - Sexto. X.Y.Z.)'.
This comprehensive dictionary was based on examination of the works described and on primary research in archives (many of which were destroyed or dispersed during Napoleon's invasion of Spain), and has been much used by later historians of the arts in Spain. The text includes not only biographic and historical notices but also the author's critical and aesthetic views. He admires both the naturalism of Velázquez and the classicism of Mengs.
The Apéndice of Volume V consists of 'Fragmentos De Obras Que Escribió Sobre La Pintura El Pintor Pablo De Cespedes'. This contains all the known writings of Céspedes, including 'Poema de la pintura', 'Discurso de la comparación de la antigua y moderna pintura y escultura', a brief account of the origin of painting and a letter to Pacheco on technical matters.
Reproductions
A facsimile was published in Madrid in 1965.
Provenance
In Volume I a notice has been tipped in, inscribed in ink, 'These six Volumes of the Dictionary of Spanish Painters belong to the Royal Academy, P. Hoare'; and the verso of the front loose endpaper is inscribed in ink, 'P. Hoare For the Royal Academy.'
Copy Note
In Volume VI the typed 'Binder's Note' of James Brockman, Wheatley, Oxford, has been pasted onto the rear pastedown, describing his treatment of the set and carrying the date of November 1998.
Binding Note
19th-century calf; rebacked in 1998 by J. Brockman, retaining earlier red morocco spine-labels lettered 'Diccionari De Los Profesor De Las Bellas Artes Tom. I. A-C ( - Tom. VI. X-Z)'.
Subject
Art - Arts - Artists - Painters - Sculptors - Spain - History
Art history - Art criticism - Theory - Dictionaries - Reference books - Spain - 19th century