18th Century and Earlier Art

Il Ponte Palatino is an original black and white etching of the Late 18th century realized by Giuseppe Vasi. Signed and titled on plate lower margin. Good ...

Chiesa di S. Tomaso in Parione is an original black and white etching of the Late 18th century realized by Giuseppe Vasi. Signed and titled on plate lower margin. Good conditions ...

Chiesa e Monastero di S. Cosimato is an original black and white etching of the Late 18th century realized by Giuseppe Vasi. Signed and titled on plate lower margin. Good conditio...

Palazzo Pontificio is an original black and white etching of the Late 18th Century realized by Giuseppe Vasi. The beautiful etching represents a glimpse of Rome. Signed and titled ...

Elegant Tit - John Gould lithograph with hand-coloured size 54 cm X 37 cm excellent Condition This remarkable ornithology lithograph with hand-finis...

Palazzo Barberini is an original black and white etching of the Late 18th century realized by Giuseppe Vasi. The beautiful etching represents a glimpse of Rome. Signed and titled o...

Chiesa di S. Venanzio is an original black and white etching of the Late 18th century realized by Giuseppe Vasi. The beautiful etching represents a glimpse of Rome. Signed and tit...

Convento dei Padri Eremiti di S. Agostino is an original black and white etching of the Late 18th century realized by Giuseppe Vasi. The beautiful etching represents a glimpse of R...

Chiesa Di S. Giorgio is an original black and white etching of the Late 18th century realized by Giuseppe Vasi. The beautiful etching represents a glimpse of Rome. Signed and title...

Monastero e Chiesa dell'Immacolata is an original black and white etching of the Late 18th century realized by Giuseppe Vasi. The beautiful etching represents a glimpse of Rome. Si...

Monastero e Chiesa di S. Apollonia is an original black and white etching of the Late 18th century realized by Giuseppe Vasi. The beautiful etching represents a glimpse of Rome. Si...

Chiesa di S.Maria in Vallicella is an original black and white etching of the Late 18th century realized by Giuseppe Vasi. The beautiful etching represents a glimpse of Rome. Signe...

Archiginnasio della Sapienza is an original black and white etching of the Late 18th century realized by Giuseppe Vasi. The beautiful etching represents a glimpse of Rome. Signed ...

This large hand-colored map entitled "Le Royaume de Naples Divisé en Douze Provinces. sur les Memoires les plus Nouveaux. Par le Sr. Sanson Presenté" was originally created by Nicholas Sanson d'Abbeville and published by Hubert Jaillot in "Atlas Nouveau" in Paris in 1692. It depicts central and southern Italy, as well as Corfu, Albania, Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea. Naples, Sorrento, the Isle of Capri, Rome in the upper left corner of the map, as well as many other landmarks. This striking original hand-colored map of Italy is printed on antique hand-made laid, chain-linked paper with wide margins. The sheet measures 20" high and 24.88" wide. There is one spot on the left, it is otherwise in very good to excellent condition. Nicholas Sanson d'Abbeville (1600-1667) was one of the greatest French cartographather of French cartography. Sanson opened his first printing business in Paris in 1638. The king recognized his skill and knowledge and made him the official geographer to the court. He eventually served two kings in this capacity. Sanson was succeeded by his sons and son...

This colorful and detailed 17th century copperplate map by Frederick De Wit was published in Amsterdam between 1666 and 1690. It depicts the Caspian Se...

Peter Paillou (c.1720 – c.1790) was a British artist best known for his paintings of birds, many of which were used as book illustrations. He gained repute in the 18th century as a natural history painter and illustrator. He was employed by two leading naturalists and antiquarians of the time, Taylor White (1701-1772) and Thomas Pennant (1726-1798). He illustrated the latter's British Zoology and decorated the hall at Downing, Pennant's house in Flintshire, with several pictures of birds...

Ya es hora from Los Caprichos is an original artwork realized by the artist Francisco Goya and published for the first time in 1799. Etching and aquatin...

Peter Paillou (c.1720 – c.1790) was a British artist best known for his paintings of birds, many of which were used as book illustrations. He gained repute in the 18th century as a natural history painter and illustrator. He was employed by two leading naturalists and antiquarians of the time, Taylor White (1701-1772) and Thomas Pennant (1726-1798). He illustrated the latter's British Zoology and decorated the hall at Downing, Pennant's house in Flintshire, with several pictures of birds...

Hubert Robert (French, 1733 – 1808) Figures in the Roman ruins Sanguine on paper 29.6 x 35.6 cm. Bearing watermark from ‘Jan Honig & Zoonen, Amsterdam’ Provenance: Hal O’Nians, Fine...

Artist: Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (French, 1707-1788) Title: "Baccharis (Baccharises); Chrysocoma (Golden Bitter Bush)" (Syngenesie; Polygamie, Plate 698) Portfolio: His...

Vitraux in Four Sheets, Puzzle of Life, 1974, by Salvador Dali (1904-1989) Lithograph on paper 52 ¼ x 55 ½ inches unframed (132.715 x 140.97 cm) 53 ½ x ...

Artist: Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (French, 1707-1788) Title: "Euphorbia (Spurge)" (Dodecandrie, Trigynie, Plate 411) Portfolio: Histoire Naturelle Year: 1749-1789 Medium...

GIOVANNI BATTISTA PIRANESI (Italian 1720-1778) VEDUTA del SEPOLCRO della Famiglia PLAUZIA per la strada che Conduce da Roma a Tivoli vicino a Ponte Lugan...

This rare capital of the first Romanesque art presents an ox mask on one side, a monster mask on the adjacent side and two rosettes on the other sides. ...

Francesco Cepparuli, Ancient Roman Fresco, original etching hand watercolored. Mid-18th Century. original etching from the end of the 18th century, realized by Francesco Cepparuli. ...

Mark on left seems rubbed, light foxing--see title and look it up as a Redoute image.

Fine huge 17th Century Italian/French Old Master Battle Scene of the Crusades, oil on canvas. Grand scale extensive landscape view of a battle from the 1670-80 period, with cavalry f...

This beautiful 18th century hand-colored copper plate engraved map is entitled "Carte de l'Isle de Taiti, par le Lieutenant J. Cook" was created by Jacques Nicolas Bellin and publish...

A beautifully framed hand-colored engraving from the famous "Cries of London" series, depicting the lives and professions of the common people of 18th ...

Pieter van der Aa (1659-1733), after David Loggan (1634-1692) The Costumes of the University of Cambridge (early 18th century) 14 x 36 cm Engra...

This is an 18th century hand-colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683-1741) depicting the following flowering bindweed plants: a. Convolvulus m...

Pieter van der Aa (1659-1733), after Jan Kip (1652/3-1722) Old St Paul's Cathedral (1707) 14 x 17 cm Engraving A view of the nave of Old St Paul's Cathedral, engraved by Pieter van der Aa after Johannes 'Jan' Kip, the Dutch draftsman, engraver and print dealer...

This is an original 18th Century copper plate engraved portrait of Captain James Cook as a young man. It was engraved by J. Basire after a painting by William Hodges, published in London by W. Strahan and T. Cadell in the Strand in 1777 as the frontispiece to the official journal publication of Cook's 2nd voyage of discovery, "A voyage towards the South Pole, and round the World. Performed in His Majesty's ships the Resolution and Adventure, in the years 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775". The journal was written by James Cook, Commander of the Resolution, which was the ship used for the voyage and William Hodges, who was the artist on board the ship. This famous image has been used in many articles and tributes to Captain Cook, including a Norfolk Island stamp celebrating his many accomplishments. This engraved head-and-shoulders portrait of Captain Cook is enclosed in an oval with the appearance of a stone border. Captain Cook is dressed in his naval dress uniform, with a topcoat over a lace shirt. The engraving is printed on watermarked laid, chain-linked paper. The sheet measures 11.5" high x 9" wide. There is some spotting, most prominently in the margins. The print is otherwise in excellent condition. Captain James Cook (1728-1779) was an English explorer, navigator, surveyor and cartographer, who dramatically changed what was known about the world through his three voyages of discovery in the 1770's. Cook's achievements are too numerous to include here, but for example, Cook charted much of the Pacific Ocean and discovered many island groups, including the Hawaiian islands, which he named the Sandwich Islands, in honor of the head of the British Admiralty and a patron of Cook's. Cook was the first European to explore the eastern coast of Australia, and he was the first to map the New Zealand coastline. He sailed farther south than any other explorer before him, disproving the belief that a huge land mass occupied the South Pole. He also explored the northwest coast of North America, including present day Alaska and adjacent portions of Russia. He proved that the Northwest Passage did not exist. Cook was an exceptional seaman, navigator and leader of men, which contributed to the success of his explorations, but also saved his ship and crew on many occasions when faced with challenges, such as storms in previously unexplored waters, like occurred in the Great Barrier Reef off the eastern coast of Australia. He is also the first to require his crew to eat citrus fruit which markedly reduced the incidence of survey, which had led to large scale illness and death during earlier ocean voyages. As outstanding as Cook's skills were, they are even more impressive since they were self-taught. Having grown up the son of a farmhand in Northern England he had only four years of formal schooling. He taught himself astronomy, mathematics and other disciplines which were helpful when he continued his education, first in the merchant marine and then in the British Navy. Cook's adventurous career came to a sudden and unfortunate end in 1779, when he was killed in a confrontation with Hawaiian natives...

Robert Morden (British, circa 1650 – 1703) A map of Cumberland with hand colouring An engraving 14.1/4 x 16.5/8 in. (36.5 x 42.5 cm.)

These two Giovanni Battista Piranesi 18th century etchings of fireplace designs on one sheet is plate 6 from his publication 'Diverse Maniere d'adornare i cammini ed ogni altra parte degli edifizi desunte dall'architettura Egizia, Etrusca, e Greca con un Ragionamento Apologetico in defesa dell'Architettura Egizia, e Toscana, opera del Cavaliere Giambattista Piranesi...

Jan van der Heyden (1637 Gorinchem - 1712 Amsterdam), attributed. Old Master Drawing, Westerkerk Keizersgracht in Amsterdam, 17th century, Dutch Westerkerk and Keizersgracht in Amsterdam Backside: later drawn backside with village church of the 18th century Chalk and pen on paper 23,5 x 18,5 cm Preliminary drawing for a painting from the creative period c. 1667 - 1670. This painting has been published a few years ago by Peter C. Sutton in the catalogue raisonné of the artist. Van der Heyden was initially a pupil of a glass painter, but later turned exclusively to architectural painting and went to Amsterdam, where he painted views of churches, castles, palaces, public squares, streets, canals, etc., most of which are richly decorated with staffage. In addition, van der Heyden was also active as an inventor, for example, he developed a street lighting system for Amsterdam by means of oil street lamps, which was in operation from 1669 to 1840. After a stay in London, he painted the London fire of 1666, which he either witnessed himself or had seen the consequences of. Certainly influenced by this, he did much to further the technical and organisational development of the fire brigade from 1669 onwards. His greatest invention was probably the fire hose, which enabled significant improvements in fire-fighting technology and tactics. He also improved the hand-operated fire engines of the time by making them smaller, more mobile and more powerful, and he developed the series connection of several pumps to increase the pressure in order to achieve a greater range for the water jet. In 1690, together with his son, he was the author and illustrator of the Brandspuiten-boek, the first manual for fire fighting. Johann Lingelbach, Adriaen van de Velde and Eglon van der Neer...

FRANCISCO de GOYA y LUCIENTES (1746 -1828) OBSEQUIO á el MAESTRO (‘A gift for the master’) Plate 47 from the 1st edition of Los Caprichos (Blas, ...

Outstanding early 18th century English portrait of James Bellevue. The portrait was always believed to be the work of Sir Godfrey Kneller who was known to have painted James Bellevu...

Bernard Picart, 'The Death of Hercules' from 'The Temple of the Muses', engraving, 1730. Signed in the plate, lower left. Titled in French, English, German, and Dutch. A superb, rich...

This is a hand-colored copper plate engraving depicting flowering "Hyosciamus albus and Hyosciamus vulgaris" (Henbane) plants from Basilius Besler's landmark work, Hortus Eystettensi...

Bernard Picart, 'The Deluge' from 'The Temple of the Muses', engraving, 1730. Signed in the plate and dated '1730' lower left. Titled in French, English, German, and Dutch. A superb...

Ancient Roman Statues, from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized in the 18th century. Signed on the plate, on the lower left: Vanni Rom....

A Cart Race Hand colored etching & aquatint, 1788 Signed in the plate (see photo) Published by William Hollande, London Inscribed in the plate with title, artist's name and publication line 'Rowlandson. 1788./ London. Pubd 1789 by Wm Holland No 50. Oxford Street.' Reference: M.Dorothy George, 'Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum', VI, 1938) British Museum Satires 7607 Grego, 'Rowlandson', i. 260, Grego II.392 Provenance: Chris Beetles Ltd., London (label), 2003 Jeffrey M. Kaplan, Washington, D.C. (label) Condition: Excellent Archival framing by Chris Beetles Ltd., London Note: The British Museum has two impressions, one trimmed the other full sheet as this example. Accession Number: 1868,0711.35 The Metropolitan Museum has an impression: Accession number 59.533.314 Fitzwilliam Museum: Accession number: 34.14-286 Cleveland Museum of Art accession number: 1958.10 Image description per BM: Three ramshackle two-wheeled carts drawn by wretched horses race (right to left) against a background formed by the church... Note: The British Museum has two impressions, one trimmed the other full sheet as this example. Accession Number: 1868,0711.35 The Metropolitan Museum has an impression: Accession number 59.533.314 Fitzwilliam Museum: Accession number: 34.14-286 Cleveland Museum of Art accession number: 1958.10 Image description per BM: Three ramshackle two-wheeled carts drawn by wretched horses race (right to left) against a background formed by the clouds of dust which they have raised, with a row of gabled houses (right) inscribed 'St Giles', terminating in a church spire (left), and probably representing Broad St. Giles. The occupants of the carts are Irish costermongers typical of St. Giles. The foremost horse gallops, urged on by the shouts of a standing man brandishing a club. The other occupants, two women and a man, cheer derisively the next cart, whose horse has fallen, one woman falling from it head-first, another lies on the ground. The driver lashes the horse furiously. The third cart, of heavier construction, is starting. The horses are partly obscured by the clouds of dust, but denizens watch from casement windows and a door. Two ragged urchins (right) cheer the race; a dog barks. "It was said that the amount of copper Thomas Rowlandson etched would sheathe the British Navy. An inveterate gambler, for much of his life Rowlandson had to produce a flood of his comic prints to stay ahead of financial losses.A wealthy uncle and aunt raised Rowlandson after his textile-merchant father went bankrupt. His career developed quickly. He entered London's Royal Academy Schools in 1772, visited Paris in 1774, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1775, and won a silver medal in 1777. He left school in 1778 to set up in business. Rowlandson's depictions of life in Georgian England exposed human foibles and vanity with sympathy and rollicking humor. During the 1780s he consolidated the delicate style he used for his coarse subjects. He worked mainly in ink and watercolor, his rhythmic compositions, flowing line, and relaxed elegance inspired by French Rococo art...

Le Repos Pendant la Fuitre en Egypte is an original Etching realized by an unknown French artist in 17th century. Late 18th century edition. Good condition except for a missing co...

Artist: Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (French, 1707-1788) Title: "Atraphaxis (Shrub); Cabomba (Carolina Fanwort)" (Hexandrie, Digynie, Plate 265) Portfolio: Histoire Naturel...

Animal Figures for the Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed, original etching from the mid-18th century, made by Various Old Masters. In very good condition, except for some stains al...

The portrait shows Mme Silvestre. Born in Paris, Silvestre was the daughter of Charles-Antoine Hérault and his wife Marie-Geneviève, who were her first teachers. In 1706 she married the painter Louis de Silvestre, moving with him in 1716 to Dresden. The couple's daughter Marie-Maximilienne became a pastellist. Silvestre died in Dresden, the year before her husband retired and returned to Paris. Her surviving pastels show the influence of Rosalba Carriera...

This is an 18th century hand-colored map of the western portions of North America entitled "Carte de la Californie et des Pays Nord-Ouest separés de l'Asie par le détroit d'Anian, ex...

Provenance: Dr. George Hamilton, Massachusetts; and by descent. Private Collection, Ohio, until 2021. Exhibited: (Possibly) Clark Art Institute, Massachusetts (according to a handwritten inscription on the reverse). This drawing by an anonymous, 16th-century German hand presents a delightful scene of nymphs—mostly nude but some draped with cloth—making music in an outdoor setting. The composition is executed within a roundel and centers on the harpsichord played by the figure seen from behind. She is accompanied by a host of other instruments, including horns, a harp, and a lira da gamba played by figures gathered nearby, several of which are positioned along the curved edges of the visual field. Two satyrs observe the merrymaking—one leans on the harpsichord while the other holds aloft a cup, presumably of wine, adding a bacchic element to the revelry. The drawing was previously owned by Dr. George Hamilton, scholar of modern art and Director of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown (1966–1977). Hamilton played...

Planimetry of the Vatican After G.L. Bernini is an original China Ink realized by an unknown artist in mid-17th century. Good condition except for some spoiled yellowed paper on mar...

David Loggan (1634-1692) Oriel College, the Hall of the Blessed Virgin, Oxford Engraving, 1675 25 x 35cm To see our other views of Oxford and Cambridge...

David Loggan (1634-1692) Engraving of Magdalen College, Oxford Engraving, 1674 32 x 42cm To see our other views of Oxford and Cambridge, scroll down ...

This framed original 18th century etching is entitled "Fregio antico di marmo con Ippogrifi, nel cortile del palazzo della Valle" (Ancient Marble Frieze with Hippogriffs in the Courtyard of The Palace of the Valley). The etching is by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, published in Rome in 1778. It is from Piranesi's monumental work "Vasi, Candelabri, Cippi, Sarcofagi, Tripodi, Lucerne, Ed Ornamenti Antichi", (Vases, candelabra, grave stones...

This large hand-colored map entitled "Estats de L'Empire des Turqs en Europe, ou sont les Beglerbeglicz our Gouvernements" was originally created by Nicholas Sanson d'Abbeville and this version was published by Hubert Jaillot in "Atlas Nouveau" in Paris in 1692. It depicts the territories of the Ottoman Empire in Europe, predominantly Eastern Europe. Highlights include, the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic Sea, the Black Sea, the Dalmation Coast including present day Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Italy, Greece, North Macedonia, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, Albania, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Transylvania, Moldova and southern portions of France, Switzerland, Germany, and Poland.. The map consists of two sheets joined as one along a vertical joint. The map has original hand-coloring. It is printed on antique hand-made laid, chain-linked paper with wide margins. The sheet measures 24.88" high and 38" wide. There is a central vertical joint, as issued. The map is in very good condition. Nicholas Sanson d'Abbeville (1600-1667) was one of the greatest French cartographather of French cartography. Sanson opened his first printing business in Paris in 1638. The king recognized his skill and knowledge and made him the official geographer to the court. He eventually served two kings in this capacity. Sanson was succeeded by his sons and son...

In a tavern. engraver Jan De Visscher (1933-1692) Paper, engraving, 21x25 cm

Artist: Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (French, 1707-1788) Title: "Mimufops (Mimusops); Ibricaria (Shingle Oak)" (Octandreie, Monogynie, Plate 300) Portfolio: Histoire Nature...

This large original hand-colored copperplate engraved map of southern Greece and the Pelopponese Peninsula entitled "La Moree Et Les Isles De Zante, Cefalonie, Ste. Marie, Cerigo & C...

David Loggan (1634-1692) Engraving of Oriel College, Oxford Engraving, 1674 30 x 41cm To see our other views of Oxford and Cambridge, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and belo...