Lot 33: John Linnell's illustrations of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling

LINNELL, JOHN

Capella Sistina di Michael Angelo Buonarotti. London: John Linnell, 1833-1835. First and only edition. Contemporary maroon half-russia, pebbled cloth boards, spine and upper board gilt, skillfully rebacked preserving original spine. 11 x 16 1/2 inches (28 x 42 cm); no title page as issued, forty-two engraved plates on india paper mounted, many signed and dated in the plate, tissue guards. Boards and spine with some scuffing and wear. a few spots of foxing to the plates, a few dog-eared corners and some light soiling to margins, creasing and tears to some of the tissue guards, bookseller's label of "Lawford, Saville Passage."

The only edition of this scarce album of engravings of Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling, by the English engraver, portrait and landscape painter John Linnell (1792-1882). The plates are based on a set of original drawings that had been in the collection first of Sir Peter Lely, then Sir Joshua Reynolds, and subsequently Samuel Rogers, who gave Linnell permission to produce these prints. Linnell was a close friend to, and patron of, William Blake, whose art was greatly influenced by Michaelangelo. The album was originally issued in parts and is sometimes found with an 1833 prospectus leaf in the position of a title page.