18th Century Art

This is a hand-colored copper plate engraving depicting Ranunculus (Persian Buttercup) flowers from Basilius Besler's landmark work, Hortus Eystettensis (Garden at Eichstatt), first published in 1613 in Eichstatt, Germany near Nuremberg and later in 1640 and 1713. This beautiful colorful engraving is printed on thick laid chain-linked paper. There is latin text on the verso. There are central horizontal creases and two small holes on the right and another in the left lower corner. It is otherwise in excellent condition. Basilius Besler (1561–1629) was an apothecary and botanist. He was curator of the Willibaldsburg Castle garden of Johann Konrad von Gemmingen, prince bishop...

Artist: William Curtis (English, 1746-1799) Title: Set of Six Hand-Colored Engravings Portfolio: The Botanical Magazine; or, Flower-Garden Displayed Year: 1796-1829 (First-third seri...

An 18th century view of the first permanent water fountain in London. London: J.Boydell, 1753. Engraving with hand coloring in watercolor on white laid paper, laid down to a modern...

Spanish School (18th Century), A Rare Portrait of Juan Procopio de Bassecourt, count of Santa Clara, governor of the island of Cuba between December 1796 and May 1799. The lighthouse...

A miniature English School portrait of two children holding a loving embrace. Well presented in a charming bird's-eye maple frame with internal gilt slip and glazing. Unsigned. On pa...

Allà Và Eso from Los Caprichos is an original artwork realized by the artist Francisco Goya and published for the first time in 1799. Etching and aquat...

Ancient Roman Bust, from the Series Antiquities of Herculaneum is an original etching on paper realized by Filippo Morghen. Signed on the plate, on the lower right. Good conditions ...

Two Magnificent Late Baroque Italian School Paintings Attributed to Paolo de Matteis - A Rare Pair Offered here as a single, exceptional lot are two compelling oil on canvas painting...

Letter S is an Etching realized by Luigi Vanvitelli. The etching belongs to the print suite “Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed” (original title: “Le Antichità di Ercolano Esposte”)...

Important English school painting in the style of the great artist Thomas Hudson (Devonshire 1701 - Twickenham 1779) It depicts the portrait of Harry Gray (1715-1768), 4th Earl of St...

A very fine portrait of a British military officer signed and dated Thomas Beach 1774 in the lower left. This oil on canvas is presented in a period gilt frame and is ready to hang. ...

La obra no va firmada, es de augtor anónimo Se presenta sin enmarcar la pintura El estado de conservación de la pintura dse puede ver, presenta faltas y precisará restauración Med...

Framed 18th-century pen and ink drawings of elaborate capital and base supports, inspired by Ancient Greek architecture and design. Well presented in a fluted gilt-effect frame. Unsi...

Landscape is a beautiful drawing in pencil and watercolor on paper realized by Jan Peter Verdussen in 1745 ca. In good condition, excpet for some foxing on the right. The artwork r...

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...

This exquisite 18th-century portrait depicts a young girl, delicately rendered in the style of Sir Godfrey Kneller, one of the most celebrated portrait painters of the Baroque period...

Red chalk on cream laid paper, 7 1/4 x 9 3/8 inches (182 x 236 mm), the full sheet. In very good condition with minor toning and two small nicks in the top sheet edge. Some modern no...

This is a rare 18th Century hand-colored copperplate engraving entitled "Der Storch Ciconia" (White Stork) by Johann Leonhard Frisch is plate 19...

Letter I is an Etching realized by Luigi Vanvitelli. The etching belongs to the print suite “Antiquities of Herculaneum Exposed” (original title: “Le Antichità di Ercolano Esposte”)...

Veduta del Romano Camipidpglio con scalinata che va alla chisea d’Araceli (The Capitol and the Steps of S. Maria in Aracoeli) Etching, 1775 Watermark: Double Circle Fleur de Lys A lifetime impression with the price etching in the plate Printed in Rome, before the plates are moved to Paris and the numerous posthumous editions Reference: Hind 38 ii/IV Robison 38 ii/V with the price Wilton Ely 190 Condition: A fine Roman...

Magnificent hand carved Carrara marble sculpture of a lioness head from Rome. Mounted on a metal base. Base 13.75"W x 12.25"D.

Skeleton is an etching realized in 1771 by Louis Legrand (1723-1807). Signed in plate. The artwork Belongs to the suite "Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière avec la descri...

Bold antique copper engraving of the floor plan of a French cathedral from Recueil d'Architecture, 1780. Original artwork on paper displayed on a whi...

Ancient Roman Fresco from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized by Giovanni Morghen in the 18th Century. Signed on the plate. Good condi...

18th century natural history engraving depicting shells by Robert Benard after Henry Joseph Redoute. Henry Redoute was the bro...

"The two Armies being engaged by break of day, Jupiter sends Iris to bid Hector retire from the Fight, and not return till Agamemnon's wounds had obliged him, to withdraw from the Fi...

George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...

This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "A New & Correct Chart of All The Known World Laid down according to Mercator's Projection" by Emanuel Bowen. It was published in 1744 in London in John Harris's "Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca" or "A Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels". This highly detailed and colorful map depicts the world. as it was known in the mid 18th century. A majority of the northern and central portions of Canada and America are left blank due to the purity of knowledge at the time this map was published. The map is embellished with four Compass Roses in the lower left, lower center, lower right and center, along with many rhumb lines. There a is a decorative title cartouche in the upper left. This colorful, attractive, historical and interesting 1744 map presents the entire world on Mercator's projection as it was understood in the middle part of the 18th century, before the landmark explorations of Captain’s Cook, Vancouver, Wilkes and others. It is an example of a nautical chart, a type of map that was designed specifically for use by mariners. The map is centered on the equator and includes both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. The continents of North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia are depicted, as well as various islands in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. The map is laid out according to the Mercator projection, a type of cylindrical map projection that was developed in the 16th century by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator. This projection has the advantage of preserving angles and shapes, making it useful for navigation. The map presents a paucity of inland detail, particularly for the Americas, but major cities, geographical landmarks, and regions are included. Ocean currents and Tradewinds are identified, as well as the magnetic declination lines or magnetic variance, which refers to the difference between true north and compass north. The continents are color coded, enhancing the beauty of this map. The three compass roses indicate the directions of the cardinal points. The depiction of the western coast of America, the Pacific and Australia are interesting. There was very little exploration of Australia between the navigations of William Damper in 1699 and Tobias Furneaux in 1773. Most of the maps detail relies on the 17th century Dutch expeditions to Australia's western coast, by Abel Tasman and William Janszoon. Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) and New Guinea appear connected to the Australian continent. New Zealand appears as a single landmass. North of New Zealand there is a landmass labelled 'Ter d' St. Esprit' which probably represents the New Hebrides Islands. This map precedes the accurate exploration of the South Pacific and east coast of Australia by Captain James Cook later in the 18th century. The map includes ‘Drakes' Port,' the site where Sir Francis Drake supposedly landed in 1579 during his 1579 circumnavigation of the globe. Here he claimed territory for England, restocked, and repaired his vessels. Drake named the region New Albion. The exact location of Drake's Port is a cartographic mystery. Drake's Harbor is believed to be in the region of San Francisco Bay, Bodega Bay, San Pablo Bay...

George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...

The painting captures a serene moment on the foothill plateau, just as the day is beginning to wake up. The mountains are still wrapped in a soft blanket of morning fog, giving the s...

La Lampe Polonoise Aquatint, 1771 Signed and dated in the plate lower left Condition: Yellowing to the sheet Image size: 6 1/8 x 8 1/8 inches Reference: Hedou 147 ii/II Provenance: C...

This hand-colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683-1741) is entitled "Stramonia Aegyptiaca foetida semine pallido flore albo duplici triplicive...

Etching on laid and watermarked paper (a double circles visible near the bell tower). 38 th Plate from the series " Views of Rome". Signed on plate on lower-left margin "Piranesi F....

Eight 18th century-era fashion plates from the portfolio Modes, by Madeleine Connat. Paris: Paris Etching Society, 1951. Each an engraving with hand coloring in watercolor on cream ...

Sir Joshua Reynolds 1723-1792 British Sir Henry Bowles Howard, 12th Earl of Suffolk and 5th Earl of Berkshire Oil on canvas Sir Joshua Reynolds is unequivocally considered the most important English portraitist of the 18th century who was instrumental in adapting the Grand Manner style in the portrait genre. In fact, when the Royal Academy was founded in 1768, Reynolds was elected its first President, setting the precedent of quality for which all other portraitists would strive. Reynolds's portrait of Henry Bowles Howard, 12th Earl of Suffolk, showcases his genius in the genre and mastery over the medium. Reynolds’s portrait of the Earl expertly invokes classical values with strong lighting, rich colors and expert attention to detail to help underscore the prominence and revered echelon of the sitter. Howard was an esteemed British politician and Knight of the Garter. He served as Secretary of State for the Northern Department from 1771 to 1779, and he played a key role in utilizing mercenaries during the American Revolution and safeguarding Sweden's independence. The portrait employs Reynolds's signature style to render Howard rightfully as a gentleman of distinction. Captured seated in a stately library, the Earl appears learned and austere as he places one hand upon a stack of important documents and looks wistfully into the distance. Reynolds makes these compositional choices decisively, as the seated position gives Howard a weighty appearance of importance and the semi-profile turn captures his countenance at an attractive angle that highlights his strong, masculine features. The work draws on the classical conventions of Greek and Roman art and the Italian Renaissance masters, anchoring the nobleman in a history of refinement. Everything from his strong yet welcoming expression to his pale face enlivened by a rush of blood to the cheeks presents the picture of a strong, vital and powerful leader. As the first president of the Royal Academy in London, Reynolds’s commissions raised the status of an artist in Britain during the Romantic period and also established the portrait as an esteemed high art genre that garnered equal import to the history paintings that reigned supreme in decades prior. Today, Reynolds’s works grace the walls of the most important museums in the world, including the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the National Gallery in London, among others. Circa 1770 Canvas: 50 1/2" high x 40 1/4" wide Framed: 61" high x 52 1/2" wide x 3 1/2" deep Provenance: Sir Henry Howard, 12th Earl of Suffolk and 5th Earl of Berkshire, 1739-1779 His mother, Lady Mary Howard, née Finch, Lady Andover, d. 1803 Acquired by descent to her daughter, Frances, and her husband Richard Bagot (later Howard) Acquired by descent to their daughter, Mary (1784-1877), and her husband Col. Fulke Greville Upton (later Howard), d. 1846 Acquired by descent to Lieutenant Colonel H.R.G. Howard Sale, Christie's, London, March 24, 1961, no. 29 Julius Weitzner, London and New York Sale, Paris, Musée Galliéra, December 7, 1965, no. 165 Newhouse Galleries, New York, NY Mr. and Mrs. F. Howard Walsh, Fort Worth, Texas, 1966 Walsh Family Art Trust Private collection, Oregon M.S. Rau, New Orleans Exhibited: British Institution, London, 1844, no. 130, loaned by the Hon. Fulke Greville Howard. South Kensington, "Second special exhibition of National Portraits," 1867, no. 478, lent by the Hon. Mrs. Greville. Agnew's, London, 1903, no. 17. Literature: Algernon Graves and W. V. Cronin, A History of the Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A., vol. 3 (London, 1899), p. 945. David Mannings...

Very good condition with original canvas, stretcher and frame.

initialed 'G.M.' in the lower right corner Provenance Christies, New York, Sporting Art, December 6, 2000, lot 29 Measurements Image size: each 10 3/4 by 14 1/2 inches, overall each ...

Domenico Parodi (Genoa, 1672 - 1742) Portrait of Anne Marie d'Orléans (Château de Saint-Cloud, 27 August 1669 - Turin, 26 August 1728), first queen consort of Sardinia and maternal g...

View of the Capitoline Hill is an original etching realized by the italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi in 1775. Very precious and rare lifetime impression. Roman edition. II ...

Portrait Of Gilbert Talbot 7th Earl of Shrewsbury (1552-1616), 16th Century Circle of George Gower (c.1540–1596) Huge 16th Century Portrait Of Gil...

Graphite and grayish ink wash on bluish wove paper, 7 x 10 1/2 inches (177 x 265 mm) (matrix). Scattered surface soiling, adhesive residue, dog-eared corners, and scattered edge tears along left margin, outside of image area. Paper is braced on the verso with two pages from a mid 19th century book with illustrations by C.Perrin. One image depicts a scene of a group of soldiers representing the Holy Roman Empire...

Copper-line engraving. 1781. From John Latham's 'General Synopsis of Birds' 1781-1785, and its Supplements. Plate number top left. Laid paper. John Latham was the leading English or...

Well presented in a simple mahogany frame and cream mount. On wove.

Copper-line engraving. 1781. From John Latham's 'General Synopsis of Birds' 1781-1785, and its Supplements. Plate number top left. Laid paper with watermark. John Latham was the lea...

Portrait of Lady Mansfield of Ringwood Oil on Canvas, unsigned Image size: 25 x 30 inches (63 x 76 cm) Original carved & gilded frame Provenance Descended through the Family Estate Born in Poland in 1760 to the 2nd Earl of Mansfield and his wife, Elizabeth Mary Murray would later come under the care of her uncle, William Murray (1st Earl of Mansfield) at Kenwood House in Hampstead. David Murray (2nd Earl of Mansfield) was set to inherit the title and full wealth of his uncle, including Kenwood House. Lady Mansfield’s second cousin would soon join her at Kenwood, where they would be raised together and featured in multiple portraits of the time. Her younger sister, Henrietta, is seen in a separate portrait done by Thomas Hudson as well. At the age of 25 she married George Finch-Hatton, an English aristocrat and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1772-1784. Gazing out at the viewer, Lady Mansfield wears a decorated dress, with an abundance of pearls and lace, and a transparent gold lined veil surrounding her right shoulder. The excess of luxurious fabric matches another Hudson portrait of another Lady Mansfield, with the lace detailing and complementary bodice. The depiction of this Lady Mansfield epitomizes the style of portraiture in the 18th century, such as the styles Hudson’s pupils Joshua Reynolds, Joseph Wright, and Peter Toms. From Hudson’s travels to the Low Countries and Italy, he no doubt brought back artistic inspiration from the international pieces he encountered. Thomas Hudson Hudson was a celebrated 18th century portrait painter. Born in Devon in 1701 he studied under the artist Jonathan Richardson and married his daughter, against Richardson’s wishes. He had many artistic friends including William Hogarth and Francis Hayman and travelled with them in Europe in 1748. He also visited Italy with the sculptor Louis-François Roubiliac in 1752. Hudson’s style of portraiture proved so successful that for a decade from 1745 to 1755 he was London’s most popular portrait painter and made a fortune painting the cream of London society and members of the Royal Family. He was also a talented teacher, perhaps too good, as subsequently a number of his former assistants overtook him in popularity including the artist Joshua Reynolds. Hudson retired in the late 1750’s and died in Twickenham in 1779. His most notable works include portraits of King George II and George Friedrich Handel and his “Portrait of a Nobleman in Van Dyck dress.” Many of Hudson’s works may be seen in art galleries. These include the National Portrait Gallery, the National Maritime Museum, the Tate Gallery, the Foundling Museum and the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery. His works are also in Museums across the world...

A very interesting and important Engraving, framed between two glasses and two colors natural and gilded wood frame of the Plan of the palace of Caprarola that inspired the American ...

Le Grand prêtre Coresus is an artwork realized by Jérôme Danzel in the second half of the XVIII Century. Burin after Fragonard's artwork "Coresus et ...

A grouping of four framed engravings of Hawaii, Tahiti, Tonga and Vancouver Island from the atlas of the official British Admiralty sanctioned journal of Captain Cook's 3rd Voyage entitled "A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean Undertaken by the Command of His Majesty, for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere", published upon completion of the voyage in London in 1784 by Strahan & Cadell. These engravings were made from drawings by John Webber (1752-1793), who was the artist on Captain James Cook's 3rd and final voyage of discovery. The set of engravings includes: "A Canoe of the Sandwich Islands, the Rowers Masked", Plate 65 in the atlas; "A Dance in Otaheite" (Tahiti), Plate 28; "King of the Friendly Islands" (Tonga), plate 20; "Inside of a House in Nootka Sound" (Canada), plate 42. These engravings are professionally framed in Koa wood, the same wood as was used to make the canoes of the ancient Hawaiians. Koa wood is legendary in Hawaii. Not only is this amazing wood native to Hawaii, but it is known for the deep rich colors and varied grain pattern. Koa has an honored heritage in Hawaii and is highly revered and sacred. The word “koa” means “warrior” in Hawaiian. The warriors of King Kamehameha the Great, created canoes and weapons from a wood plentiful on the Big Island of Hawaii. This wood became synonymous with the warriors themselves, and it became known as koa. These four engravings would make a wonderful grouping for a display of 2, 3 or 4 prints. They may be purchased separately or in groups on 1stDibs. Their listing Reference #'s are: LU117324682432, LU117324682022, LU117324684052 and LU117324684062. A discount is available for a grouping depending on the number of items included. Hawaii was discovered by Captain Cook (1728-1779) during this voyage. Hawaii was originally called The Sandwich Islands in honor of The Earl of Sandwich...

A beautiful and important 18th century hand colored copperplate engraving of lillies which was most likely designed by Georg Dionysius Ehret (1708-1770) and engraved by Johann Michae...

This hand-colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683-1741) is entitled "A. Geniculata Wieder Kraief, B. Genipa seu Ganipaba". It is plate 531 in...

Denon, Baron Dominique Vivant. View of Arona. Paris: 1788. Etching on light cream wove paper, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches (140 x 215 mm), full margins. Some...

Escuela española; siglo XVIII. San Joaquín, Santa Ana y la Virgen Niña. Es un Óleo sobre cobre anónimo y buena calidad pictórica. Medidas de la obra: 69 x 87 cm. Medidas del marc...

This is a beautifully framed engraving, printed in colors with additional hand coloring, from the famous "Cries of London" series, depicting the lives and professions of the common p...

This hand-colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683-1741) is entitled "Castanea Equina, Chateignier amaire (Horse Chestnut)". It is plate 342 in...

This is an original antique colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving of banana plants, which is finished with hand-coloring. It is entitled "Banana 2. Mauze, Baradis-feigen", p...

18 Century Cuzco School oil on canvas of the Annunciation. Good condition. Unsigned.

'London Bridge' Aquatint by JC Stadler after J Farmington. Published c1795 for Boydell's 'History of the River Thames'. Joseph Constantine Stadler (fl London, 1780-1822) was an eng...

French school late 18th Century Portrait of a young man oil on metal 10.2 x 7.7 cm Framed under glass : 24.4 x 21.8 cm This small portrait painting, quite original in its technique...

Pierre Etienne LESUEUR (Active between 1791 and 1810) Oil on panel 27 x 38.5 cm (42 x 53 cm with the frame) Signed and dated lower right "E. LESUEUR / 1790" Very beautiful early 19th...

A romantic late 18th century pastel rendered in the manner of Francois Boucher (1703-1770), portraying two lovers tenderly embracing in a moonlit forest. Beside them, their loyal dog...