Graves International Art

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

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