Lot 257: OTTLEY, William Young (1771-1836). The Italian School of Design: being a series of facsimiles of original drawings, by the most eminent painters and sculptors of Italy; with biographical notices . London: Printed for the Author by J. M'Creery

OTTLEY, William Young (1771-1836). The Italian School of Design: being a series of facsimiles of original drawings, by the most eminent painters and sculptors of Italy; with biographical notices. London: Printed for the Author by J. M'Creery ... Published by Taylor and Hessey, 1823.

2° (560 x 410mm). 84 etched plates and illustrations by G. Bartolozzi, J.J. de Claussin, F.C. Lewis, G. Lewis, W. Long, G. Vandramini, J. Vivares, T. Vivares, Ottley and others, in various tints. (Intermittent spotting, heavy to a few plates.) Contemporary russia by Ph. Selenka, Wiesbaden, with his ticket, roll tool borders in gilt and blind, gilt edges.

A work commenced by serial subscription in 1808, each number containing 4 or occasionally 5 plates at the price of one guinea. The drawings, taken from Ottley's own collection, were 'engraved in exact conformity to the originals'. Almost half the 84 facsimiles are reproductions of drawings by Michelangelo and Raphael. Brunet IV, 255; Graesse V, 63; Lowndes IV, p. 1740; Rudolph Weigel, Die Werke der Maler in ihren Handzeichnungen (Leipzig 1865), pp. 71-72 no. 103.

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