Impostures Innocentes, Ou Recueil D'Estampes D'Apres Divers Peintres Illustres, Tels Que Rafael, Le Guide, Carlo Maratti, Le Poussin, Rembrandt, &c. Gravées à leur imitation, & selon le gout particulier de chacun d'eux, & accompagnées d'un Discours sur les Préjugés de certains Curieux touchant la Gravûre. Par Bernard Picart, Dessinateur Et Graveur: Avec Son Eloge Historique, Et Le Catalogue De Ses Ouvrages.
RA Collection: Book
Record number
07/2328
Variant Title
Discours Sur Les Préjugés de certains Curieux touchant la Gravure
Imprint
A Amsterdam,: Chez La Veuve De Bernard Picart, Sur le Cingel, à l'Etoile,, M. DCC. XXXIV. - Petit Papier.
Physical Description
[4], 10, [2], 12, 8 p., frontis. (port.), [61] leaves carrying 67 pl. (3 fold.), [7] leaves carrying [11] pl. lettered A-I, K, L.; 385 mm. (Folio.)
Contents
[Frontis., t.p.] - Avertissement; Errata - Discours Sur Les Préjugéz ... (1732) - Table Des Figures Contenues Dans Ce Volume - [Plates] - Eloge Historique De Bernard Picart ... - Catalogue Des Pieces Qui Composent L'Œuvre De Bernard Picart ...; Avis Au Relieur. (Note: the Avis Au Relieur calls for the portrait of Picart to be bound in facing his Eloge, not as a frontispiece.)
Responsibility Note
Plates 1-55 are signed as drawn by B. Picart after a drawing (or painting) of a named source-artist (but the source artist of no. 25 is not named on the plate; and pl. 20 is signed as etched by Picart and 'terminé au burin par Cl. du Flos'). Plates 56-67 are signed as designed and engraved by B. Picart. Plates A-I, K, L are signed as drawn by Rembrandt and engraved by B. Picart. The portrait of Picart is signed as painted by M. des Angles and drawn and engraved by Jacobus van der Schley.
The title-page vignette is signed as drawn by B. Picart.
References
G.A.J.M. Terwen et al., Franse refugie's en nederlandse boekillustraties: Prosper Marchand 1678-1756, Bernard Picart 1673-1733, Jacob van der Schley 1715-1779 [exhibition catalogue] (1985).
Summary Note
The Discours carries the date of 1732. Some plates also carry dates (1723, 1724, 1725, 1732, 1734).
The first fifty-five prints are engraved by Picart after drawings (sometimes paintings) by earlier masters: 1-8 Raphael; 9 Jules Romain; 10 André del Sarte; 11, 12 Parmesan; 13 Tintoret; 14 Palme; 15-8 Louis Carrache; 19, 20 Annibal Carrache; 21-32 Guide; 33 Dominicain; 34, 35 Cangiage; 36 Guerchin; 37, 38 Salvator Rose; 39 Pietre Teste; 40 Cirus Ferus; 41 Carlo Maratti; 42-5 Poussin; 46-8 Le Sueur; 49-51 Le Brun; 52 Bourdon; 53, 54 La Fage; 55 [unnamed].
Plates 56-67 are engravings by Picart of his own drawings, mostly of nude figures (académies). Plates A-I, K, L are engravings by Picart after Rembrandt.
In most cases the name of the then owner of the original is also given. The subjects are either Christian or pagan.
The book is decorated with a title-page vignette.
An English-language version of this book, Impostures Innocentes, or, a collection of prints from the most celebrated painters, was published in 1756 (London: J. Boydell).
Provenance
The verso of the portrait of Picart is inscribed in pencil, 'Bequest of P Hoare Esqre GJ 1836'. (George Jones, R.A., was librarian of the Royal Academy 1834-40.)
Binding Note
18th-century mottled calf; rebacked in 20th century, gilt-decorated spine, red morocco spine-label lettered 'Picart Impos Innoc'.
Christian art and symbolism - Mythology, Greek
Drawings - Paintings - Engravings - Prints - Nudes - Europe - History
Artists - Engravers - France - Netherlands - 17th century - 18th century
Biography - Catalogues - Netherlands - 18th century
Pictorial works - Netherlands - 18th century