104-B - [Rome]. BARBAULT, Jean.

[Rome]. BARBAULT, Jean. Views of the Most Beautiful Remains of Roman Antiquities Rome: Bouchard & Gravier, 1775. Folio, title page and 52 black copperplate engravings, 37 of which feature two figures each. Contemporary half-basane leather binding (binding rubbed, spine and upper cover missing, title page and first plate nearly detached, heavy foxing on the title page but engravings remain fresh, very slight oxidation of the paper and dulled edges, foxing along the margins on 1 plate). It consists of a black-and-red title page illustrated with a vignette drawn and engraved by Barbault, and 52 black copperplate engravings, 37 of which feature two figures each, engraved primarily by Montagu after Barbault. This is a collection of magnificently engraved plates, drawn from the work of a painter and engraver who created engravings for Piranesi’s work titled *Varie vedute di Roma antica e moderna* (1748) and collaborated with him on the monumental *Le antichità Romane* (1756). Inspired by his collaboration with the master, Barbault drew and engraved his own series of Roman views, published in *Les plus beaux monuments de Rome ancienne* (1761) and *Recueil de divers monuments anciens* (1770). The plates in this volume are taken from these works. Barbault’s picturesque scenes are distinguished by an atmosphere of romantic ruin. The work features Roman ruins, bas-reliefs, monuments, etc., with crisp and vigorous prints on heavy paper with wide margins. Untrimmed copy. Graesse I, 289 (the number of plates indicated varies slightly). Cicognara, 3595.