Audran, Les Proportions Du Corps Humain, 1683
Les Proportions Du Corps Humain Mesurees sur les plus belles Figures de l’Antiquite. A Paris, Chez Girard Audran, Graveur du Roy, rue S. Jacques, aux deux Piliers d’or. 1683. Avec Privilege Du Roy.
Folio in brown half leather binding over original bare brown boards. Black author/title plate on spine. Boards scuffed and chipped. Leather with mild wear at edges. Book plate (James Tait Goodrich) adhered only by its top edge to front paste down, so that it may be lifted and not obscure an original and well-executed pencil sketch of a man (by an unknown artist) on the bottom half of the paste down. Partially scribbled-over 18th century inscription in ink on top half of front paste down. Internal hinges repaired. Original ffep laid down on new paper. Full title with marginal wear. Followed by one page of advertisement and four pages of preface. 26 line-drawing labeled plates of the human form, and 4 final plates in a very different style (much greater detail) studying facial features. A library stamp in the center of the rear pastedown partially obscures an incomplete pencil sketch of a man (by an unknown artist). A few small marginal tears, not intruding upon plates. A few small smudges involve some of the plates, but not obtrusively so. A linear brown stain passes through one corner of the final plate. Generally fresh, clean, bright, and tight. Margins large. Printed on thick paper. Text in French.
Blank, title, advertisement, 4 pgs preface, 30 plates.
Measures 16 ¾ x 11 ½ x 5/8 inches.
Heirs of Hippocrates 415: “From a noted family of French artists and engravers, Audran was one of its most distinguished members and was ultimately appointed engraver to King Louis XIV. This atlas of twenty-eight fine engravings was prepared by the author as an aid to artists and is based on classical statuary. The line drawing of such classical figures as Venus Aphrodite, Hercules, and Laocoon include detailed measurements to indicate precise proportions.”
Additionally, one plate is Egyptian. We note Heirs counts 28 plates, whereas ours has 30 (numbered continuously in their lower right corners).
Not in Garrison-Morton
