Graves International Art

Artist: Francesco Bartolozzi (Italian, 1727-1815) Title: "Four Muses" & "Father and Two Daughters" Portfolio: Rudiments of Drawing *Issued unsigned, though both are signed by Bartolo...

Artist: Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (English, 1696-1779) and (?-1759/1774) Title: "St. Martin's Abbey" (Plate 333) and "Lady's Chappel" (Plate 331) Portfolio: Buck's Antiquities or Venerable Remains of Above 400 Castles, Monasteries, Palaces in England and Wales Year: 1726-1739 Medium: Set of Two Original Engravings on watermarked laid paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Unknown Publisher: Robert Sayer, London, UK Reference: Lowndes page 303-304; Upcott page 33 Sheet size (each): approx. 11.13" x 18.25" Image size (platemark) (each): approx. 7.5" x 14.5" Condition: "St. Martin's Abbey" has a minor crease to upper left corner and repaired edge wear to lower right corner. "Lady's Chappel" has faint toning to sheet and minor soiling in margins. They are both otherwise strong impressions in excellent condition Notes: Comes from Samuel and Nathaniel Buck's three volume portfolio "Buck's Antiquities" or "Venerable Remains of Above 400 Castles, Monasteries, Palaces in England and Wales" (1726-1739), which consists of 428 engravings. Both "St. Martin's Abbey" and "Lady's Chappel" have unidentified watermarks in the center of their sheets. They both also have "Liverpool Free Public Library" chop mark/blind stamps at bottom center of their sheets. Old price pencil inscribed in margins. Saint Martin's Abbey is a community of Roman Catholic Benedictine monks who follow the Rule of St Benedict...

Artist: Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (English, 1696-1779) and (?-1759/1774) Title: "Moor Tower" (Plate 173) and "Kirkham Priory" (Plate 328) Portfolio: Buck's Antiquities or Venerable R...

Artist: Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (English, 1696-1779) and (?-1759/1774) Title: "Conisborough Castle" (Plate 323) and "Morlashe Castle" (Plat...

Artist: Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (English, 1696-1779) and (?-1759/1774) Title: "Louth Park Abbey" (Plate 172) and "Easby Abbey" (Plate 324) Portfolio: Buck's Antiquities or Venerabl...

Artist: Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (English, 1696-1779) and (?-1759/1774) Title: "Knaresborough Castle" (Plate 330) and "Sawley Abbey" (Plate ...

Artist: Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (English, 1696-1779) and (?-1759/1774) Title: "Cockersand Abbey" (Plate 148) and "Sandal Castle" (Plate 340...

Artist: Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (English, 1696-1779) and (?-1759/1774) Title: "Oakham Castle" (Plate 242) and "Nottingham Park/Castle" (Plate 226) Portfolio: Buck's Antiquities or ...

Artist: Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (English, 1696-1779) and (?-1759/1774) Title: "Pendragon Castle" (Plate 312) and "Lincoln Castle" (Plate 170) Portfolio: Buck's Antiquities or Vener...

Artist: Samuel and Nathaniel Buck (English, 1696-1779) and (?-1759/1774) Title: "Torksey Hall" (Plate 179) and "Newark Castle" (Plate 226) Portfolio: Buck's Antiquities or Venerable ...

Artist: George Edwards (English, 1694-1773) Title: "Set of Two Hand-Colored Ornithological Engravings by George Edwards" Portfolio: A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, and of Some Other Rare and Undescribed Animals / Gleanings Of Natural History Year: 1743-1764 Medium: Set of Two Original Hand-Colored Engravings on watermarked laid and wove papers Limited edition: Unknown Printer: C. Rickaby, London, UK Publisher: William Gardiner and Messrs. Robinson, London, UK Reference: Mullens and Swann page 194-195; Anker No. 124-126; Fine Bird Books page 93; Lisney page 128-144; Nissen IVB No. 286-288; Zimmer page 192-198 Sheet size (each): approx. 11.25" x 9" Image size (each): approx. 8.63" x 7.38" Condition: "90" has faint offsetting to sheet. "308" has one foxmark center right. They are both otherwise in excellent condition with strong colors Notes: Comes from Edwards seven volume portfolio "A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, and of Some Other Rare and Undescribed Animals" / "Gleanings Of Natural History" (1743-1764), which consists of 362 hand-colored engravings. "90" is on laid paper with a "fleur-de-lis" watermark at center left edge. "308" is on wove paper with no watermark. The last image of the cover title sheets is for reference/provenance; it is not included. Biography: George Edwards FRS (3 April 1694 – 23 July 1773) was an English naturalist and ornithologist, known as the "father of British ornithology". Edwards was born at West Ham...

Artist: George Edwards (English, 1694-1773) Title: "Set of Two Hand-Colored Ornithological Engravings by George Edwards" Portfolio: A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, and of Some O...

Artist: Pierre Bulliard (French, 1742-1793) Title: "La Gratiole Officinale (Grace of God)", "La Digitale Jaune (Yellow Foxglove)", "La Renoncule Acre (Acre Buttercup)", and "La Cheli...

Artist: Pierre Bulliard (French, 1742-1793) Title: "Le Pied de Griffon (Griffin's Foot)", "La Laureole (The Laurel)", and "Le Cabaret d'Europe (The European Cabaret)" Portfolio: Herb...

Artist: William Curtis (English, 1746-1799) Title: Set of Six Hand-Colored Engravings Portfolio: The Botanical Magazine Year: 1789-1810 Medium: Set of Six Original Hand-Colored Engra...

Artist: William Curtis (English, 1746-1799) Title: Set of Six Hand-Colored Engravings Portfolio: The Botanical Magazine Year: 1796-1829 Medium: Set of Six Original Hand-Colored Engra...

Artist: Francis Swaine (English, 1725-1782) Title: "Dutch Fishing Vessels in Storm" *No signature found Circa: 1770 Medium: Original Oil Painting on wood panel Framing: Framed in a Louis XV style gold moulding Framed size: 10.63" x 12.63" Panel size (irregular margins): 6" x 7.75" Condition: One small restored spot upper left. Cosmetic wear to frame. In otherwise very good condition Notes: Provenance: private collection - London, England; acquired from art dealer Ernest Alden, London, England retaining his original gallery label on verso. Metal plaque inscribed "F. Swaine 1740-1782", (active dates), attached to frame bottom center. Ernest William Alden (1866-1947) was recorded in successive censuses, in 1881 as a picture mounter (card maker), age 14, living at 9 Bloomsbury St, with several other members of his family also given as picture mounters, including his father, James; in 1891 as a picture frame mounter with his father and family at 208 Shaftesbury Avenue; in 1901 as a photographer and picture dealer at 39 King’s Road, Chelsea; and in 1911 again at 39 King’s Road but the census form is damaged. His listing in trade directories, initially as picture mount cutter, changed to picture framemaker from 1904, soon after he set up in the King’s Road. He advertised his large stock of second-hand swept and other frames, claiming to have been established in 1893 (The Year’s Art 1913). Alden died in Chelsea in 1947, leaving effects worth £5,011, with probate granted to his widow Lily Alden and to Marjorie Frances Alden. Two of his younger brothers, Henry Cyril Alden (1871-1939) and James Preston Alden (1876-1960), were also active as picture framemakers. - National Portrait Gallery, London, England. Biography: Francis Swaine (1725–1782) was a British marine painter. He was born in 1725, and christened on 7 October of that year at St Dunstan's, Stepney, London. His parents were named Francis Swaine and Ann Joel. In 1735 the elder Francis Swaine, the marine painter's father, applied in writing to the Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy for employment as a Navy Messenger, in succession to Mr William Wyatt. He mentions that he had served "upwards of twenty eight years" in the Navy, and that his father had died Purser of the Royal Katherine. He mentions also that he had carried out "little labours in drawing", and that he at that time had five small children. The first-born of these children was the Francis Swaine who became the marine painter. The elder Swaine was duly employed as a Navy Messenger. He served for 20 years and died on 10 October 1755, aged 64. Swaine is said to have been influenced by the style of Van de Velde. There is no clear evidence of this alleged influence. The suggestion that Swaine may have been a pupil of Charles Brooking...

Artist: George Virtue (English, 1684-1756) Title: "King Richard II" Portfolio: The Heads of the Kings of England, Proper for Mr. Rapin's History *Issued unsigned, though signed by Virtue in the plate (printed signature) lower right Year: 1736 Medium: Original Engraving on laid paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Unknown, London? UK Publisher: James, John, and Paul Knapton, London, UK Reference: Brunet No. IV.1115; Bryan V. No. 294 Framing: Not framed, but matted with 100% cotton rag matting from Holland Matted size: 19.5" x 15.25" Image size: 11.25" x 7.25" Condition: In excellent condition Notes: Comes from Virtue's 1736 "The Heads of the Kings of England, Proper for Mr. Rapin's History" portfolio of approximately 63 engravings. Richard II (1367-1400), also known as Richard of Bordeaux, was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard's father, Edward, Prince of Wales, died in 1376, leaving Richard as heir apparent to his grandfather, King Edward III...

Artist: François-Nicolas Martinet (French, 1731-1800) Title: "Canard de Miclon (Old Squaw)" (1008) Portfolio: Histoire Naturelle Des Oiseaux *Signed by Martinet in the plate (printed...

Artist: François-Nicolas Martinet (French, 1731-1800) Title: "Sacelle male, de la cote de Coromandel" (Plate 949) Portfolio: Histoire Naturelle Des Oiseaux *Signed by Martinet in the...

Artist: Elizabeth Blackwell (Scottish, 1707-1758) Title: "Cardiaca (Motherwart)" (Plate 171) Portfolio: Herbarium Blackwellianum Emendatum et Auctum Circa: 1750 Medium: Original Hand-Colored Engraving on wove paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Unknown Publisher: Johann Joseph Fleischmann and Christian de Launoy, Nuremberg, Germany Reference: Arnold Aboretum page 86; BLNH I, page 169; Cleveland 444; Great Flower Books...

Artist: Francesco Londonio (Italian, 1723-1783) Title: "Woman Spinner and a Shepherd with Flock" *Signed and dated by Londonio in the plate (printed signature) upper right Year: 1759 (first state of two) Medium: Original Etching on blue wove handmade paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Unknown Publisher: Likely the artist Londonio himself Reference: Scola No. 13 Sheet size: 7.25" x 5.5" Image size: 6.75" x 5.25" Condition: Presently archivally tipped into a storage mat. Some light foxmarks to sheet. Minor crease across the two sheeps' heads. It is otherwise a strong impression in very good condition Very rare Notes: The plate number "12" printed upper right in margin. "Sammlung Hämmer (Hammer Collection)" inkstamp in green on verso lower center. Biography: Francesco Londonio (Milan, 1723 – Milan, 1783) was an Italian painter, engraver, and scenographer, active mainly in Milan in a late-Baroque or Rococo style. Londonio trained as a painter under Ferdinando Porta and Giovanni Battista Sassi in Milan, but traveled to Rome and Naples. He studied engraving with Benigno Bossi. He is best known for his paintings and ectchings of rustic and pastoral landscapes and subjects, with both animals and peasants playing a dominating role over the landscape. This focus on genre themes was popular among the wealthy patrons of the time, specially in Northern Italy; and artists such as the Brescian painters Ceruti and Cifrondi worked with such themes. In his engravings, he recalls Gaetano Zompini. Londonio is also known for his scenography. An example, of this poorly conserved art form that still exists is a nativity scene on cut wooden shapes for the church of San Marco in Milan. The effect is a cheaper version of the naturalistic Sacri Monti scenes, which had been painted stucco statuary. It also can be seen as a cross between the holy scenes described above, and the theatrical set pieces, for example, those needed for the newly founded La Scala theater. The work at San Marco prompted Empress Maria Theresa of Austria...

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

Artist: (after) John Hamilton Mortimer (English, 1740-1779) Title: "Packhorse and Soldier" Year: 1783 Medium: Original Etching on watermarked laid paper Limited edition: Unknown Prin...

Artist: Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (French, 1707-1788) Title: "Abolboda; Elodea (Waterweeds); Lepidosperma (Hoary Rapier-Sedge)" (Triandrie Monogynie, Plate 905) Portfoli...

Artist: Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (French, 1707-1788) Title: "Picris (Sunflower); Helmintia (Bristly Oxtongue)" (Syngenesie; Polygamie, Plate 648) Portfolio: Histoire Na...

Artist: Unknown (Likely French, 18th Century) Title: "La Femme Muse" *No signature found Circa: 1780 Medium: Original Pastel Drawing on heavy laid paper Frami...

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

Artist: François-Nicolas Martinet (French, 1731-1800) Title: "Le Harle Femell (The Female Merganser)" (Plate 953) Portfolio: Histoire Naturelle Des Oiseaux *Signed by Martinet in the...

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

Artist: (Follower of) Nicholaes Berchem (The Elder) (Dutch, 1620-1683) Title: "Herdsmen Resting" *No signature found Circa: 1790 Medium: Original Ink Drawing on wove paper Framing: Not framed, but matted with white rag matting from Holland and gold filet Matted size: 15.25" x 17.75" Sheet size: 7.25" x 10" Condition: Light toning to sheet. A few foxmarks and a small area of discoloration upper left. In otherwise very good condition Biography: Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem (1 October 1620 – 18 February 1683) was a highly esteemed and prolific Dutch Golden Age painter of pastoral landscapes, populated with mythological or biblical figures, but also of a number of allegories and genre pieces. He was a member of the second generation of "Dutch Italianate landscape" painters. These were artists who travelled to Italy, or aspired to, in order to soak up the romanticism of the country, bringing home sketchbooks full of drawings of classical ruins and pastoral imagery. His paintings, of which he produced an immense number, (Hofstede de Groot claimed around 850, although many are misattributed), were in great demand, as were his 80 etchings and 500 drawings. His landscapes, painted in the Italian style of idealized rural scenes, with hills, mountains, cliffs and trees in a golden dawn...

Artist: Saverio Manetti (Italian, 1723-1785) Title: "Eagle" (Plate V - 5) Portfolio: Storia Naturale Degli Uccelli (The Natural History of Birds) Year: 1767-1776 Medium: Original Hand-Colored Engraving on watermarked laid paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Unknown Publisher: heirs of Francesco Mouck (Vols. I-III), Gaetano Cambiagi (Vol. IV), Giuseppe Vanni (Vol. V), Florence, Italy Sheet size: 16.75" x 14.5" Platemark size: 13.63" x 10.88" Condition: Some minor surface marks mainly in margins. In excellent condition with strong colors Rare Notes: Provenance: private collection - Haarlem, Netherlands. Engraved and hand-colored by Italian artists Lorenzo Lorenzi (Active: 1750-1780) and Violante Vanni (1732-1776). Latin and Italian texts by Saverio Manetti. Comes from Manetti's monumental 5 book volume "Storia Naturale Degli Uccelli (The Natural History of Birds)", (1767-1776), which consists of 600 hand-colored prints, miniature and life-size prints, made from engraved plates. Unidentified watermark in very center of sheet. Comes with its accompanying information sheet. Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 60 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Manetti's extraordinary "Storia Naturale Degli Uccelli (The Natural History of Birds)", 1767-1776 was commissioned by Maria Luisa, the Grand Duchess of Tuscany. It is a massive 5 book volume set...

Artist: William Henry Toms (English, c.1700-1765) Title: "Draught of a Galley" (Plate 13, Vol. III, page 131) Portfolio: La Spectacle de la Nature Year: 1737 Medium: Original Hand-Colored Engraving on laid paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Unknown, London, UK Publisher: Humphreys, London, UK Framing: Recently framed in a Regency style gold moulding with rag matting from Holland and museum glass. The frame is an antique frame we've reused, originally built by Knoedler Gallery, New York, NY Framed size: 10.25" x 10.25" Sheet size (irregular margins): 6.63" x 8.25" Image size: 4.75" x 6.75" Condition: In excellent condition with strong colors and good margins Rare Notes: Comes from the 1737 volume edition of Noël-Antoine Pluche's "La Spectacle de la Nature", translated from the original French by Humphreys as "Nature Displayed". With two soft vertical folds within paper as issued. Various dealer reference numbers and an old price pencil inscribed in margins and on verso. Biography: William Henry Toms (c. 1700–1765) was an English engraver. He worked on portraits, book-plates, landscapes and prints of buildings. Among his works were the plates for Robert West's "Perspective Views of All the Ancient Churches in London" (1736–1739). In 1741, he worked with Thomas Badeslade on "Chorographia Britanniae or a New Set of Maps of all the Counties in England and Wales". The maps were republished on 29 September 1742, with additional place names. Among Toms's apprentices was the engraver and publisher John Boydell. W. H. Toms lived in Masham Street, London, and was the father of the painter Peter Toms. Toms died in 1765. Noël-Antoine Pluche (1688-1761) , known as the abbé Pluche, was a French priest...

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

Artist: François-Nicolas Martinet (French, 1731-1800) Title: "Le Canard a Longue Queue (The Long Tailed Duck)" (Plate 954) Portfolio: Histoire Naturelle Des...

Artist: George Virtue (English, 1684-1756) Title: "King Henry VII" Portfolio: The Heads of the Kings of England, Proper for Mr. Rapin's History *Issued unsigned, though signed by Virtue in the plate (printed signature) lower right Year: 1736 Medium: Original Engraving on laid paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Unknown, London? UK Publisher: James, John, and Paul Knapton, London, UK Reference: Brunet No. IV.1115; Bryan V. No. 294 Framing: Not framed, but matted with 100% cotton rag matting from Holland and filet from Italy Matted size: 19.75" x 15.75" Image size: 11" x 7" Condition: A few minor foxmarks. In excellent condition Notes: Comes from Virtue's 1736 "The Heads of the Kings of England, Proper for Mr. Rapin's History" portfolio of approximately 63 engravings. Engraving of Henry VII, King of England. Half length with long hair, cap with jewelled brooch, jewelled collar, and robes edged in ermine, holding orb in left hand and sceptre in right. Within a rectangular frame with crown, orb, and sceptre above and with coat of arms, putti, and a portrait of Elizabeth of York below. With English inscription below. Henry VII (1457-1509) was the King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizure of the crown on 22 August 1485 to his death. He was the first monarch of the House of Tudor. Henry attained the throne when his forces defeated King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field, the culmination of the Wars of the Roses. Biography: George Vertue...

Artist: Mark Catesby (English, 1638-1749) Title: "Putorius & Pseudo Phalangium (The Pole-Cat) (Skunk)" (Plate/Tab 62) Portfolio: Natural History of Carolina, Florida & the Bahama Islands *Monogram signed by Catesby in the plate (printed signature) lower right Year: 1771-1810 (third edition) Medium: Original Hand-Colored Etching on cream J. Ruse handmade paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Unknown Publisher: Benjamin White, London, UK Framing: Not framed, but recently matted in 100% cotton linen fabric matting with acid-free foam board backing Matted size: 18.88" x 22.38" Sheet size: 13.75" x 21.13" Platemark size: 10.25" x 13.75" Condition: UV staining to sheet and mat stain in margins. Some soft handling creases. In otherwise good condition Very rare Notes: Provenance: private collection - Miami, FL. Comes from Catesby's famous two volume portfolio "Natural History of Carolina, Florida & the Bahama Islands" (1771-1810) (third edition), which consists of 220 hand-colored etchings. "J. Ruse 1800" watermark lower right. Mark Catesby's The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands is generally credited as the first published work to provide illustrations and descriptions of North American flora and fauna. From 1722-1726 Catesby, an English naturalist, ranged over South Carolina, Georgia and the Bahamas sketching and collecting specimens of native plants and animals. Skunks are North and South American mammals in the family Mephitidae. While related to polecats and other members of the weasel family, skunks have as their closest Old World relatives the stink badgers. The animals are known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong, unpleasant scent. Biography: Mark Catesby (24 March 1683 – 23 December 1749) was an English naturalist. Between 1729 and 1747 Catesby published his Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, the first published account of the flora and fauna of North America. It included 220 plates of birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, mammals and plants. Mark Catesby's The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands is generally credited as the first published work to provide illustrations and descriptions of North American flora and fauna. From 1722-1726 Catesby, an English naturalist, ranged over South Carolina, Georgia and the Bahamas sketching and collecting specimens of native plants and animals. Little is known of Catesby's early life. He was born in eastern England in 1683. Although Catesby does not appear to have attended university or studied for the Bar, he was sufficiently educated to write clear English and Latin. His interest in and knowledge of plants may have derived from his uncle, who maintained a botanical garden. Catesby also appears to have benefited from an acquaintance with John Ray, a leading English naturalist of the 17th century and the co-author of an early classic study of birds...

Artist: Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (French, 1707-1788) Title: "Ballota (Horehound); Marrubium (White Horehound)" (Didynamie, Gymospermie, Plate 508) Portfolio: Histoire N...

Artist: François-Nicolas Martinet (French, 1731-1800) Title: "Le Millouinan" (Plate 1002) Portfolio: Histoire Naturelle Des Oiseaux *Signed by Martinet in the plate (printed signatur...

Artist: James Sowerby (English, 1757-1822) Title: "Aquilegia Vulgaris (Common Columbine)" (Plate 297) Portfolio: English Botany Year: 1796 Medium: Original Hand-Colored Engraving on ...