Dactyliotheca Smithiana - Volumen · Primum Gemmarum · Ectypa Et Antonii · Francisci · Gorii Enarrationes Complectens · (Alterum Historiam · Glyptographicam Auctore Antonio · Francisco · Gorio Exhibens.)
Vol. I: [Frontis., engr. t.p., engr. dedic.] - Lectori Archaeophilo Johannes Bap. Pasqualius - Gemmarum Syllabus - Dactyliotheca Smithiana, Tabula Prima (-C.) - [Plates]. - Vol. II: [Engr. t.pl.] - Typographus Lectori - [Text]; [illus.] - Nomina Veteum Gemmariorum, Quorum In Historia Glyptographica Mentio Injecta Est - Catalogus Lithographorum Sequioris Aevi Qui In Historia Commendantur; Errata.
Responsibility Note
The frontispiece is signed as designed and drawn by Petr. Anton. Novelli, and engraved by Joan. Volpato. Thirty-three plates are signed as engraved by Z. (or G.) Batta. Brustolon; the rest are unsigned.
The headpieces in both volumes and the full-page illustration in Vol. II. are signed as drawn by P.A. Novelli and engraved by G.B. Brustolon, the titlepage vignettes and tailpieces are unsigned.
The work is dedicated by Johannes Baptista Pasqualius to George III, King of Great Britain.
References
C.M. Brown, Engraved gems: survivals and revivals (1997); D. Scarisbrick, 'English collectors of engraved gems', in M. Henig, Classical gems ... in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (1994), p. xiii-xxiii; A king's purchase: King George III and the collection of consul Smith [exhibition catalogue] (1993); F. Haskell, 'The foreign residents', in Patrons and painters (2nd. ed., 1980), p.299-316; K. Aschengreen Piacenti, 'Consul Smith's gems', in Connoisseur, 195 (1977 June), p. 79-83.
On the printer G.B. Pasquali see F. Pedrocco, 'Editoria illustrata veneziana del settecento: G.B. Pasquali', in Atti dell'Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti (1975), p.321-30.
Summary Note
The inscription incorporated in the frontispiece includes the date of 1763 (the date of the ending of the Seven Years' War).
The frontispiece shows a bust of King George III, surrounded by symbols of his victories overseas. The plates show gems, enlarged but with actual sizes indicated, and captioned with the name of the subject. Plates 1-33 show figures from Greek mythology; 34-40 unidentified females; 41-49 poets and philosophers; 50-98 historical Greek and Roman rulers and celebrities; 99 and 100 modern subjects (Joannes Balleonius and Margarita Farnesia). Almost all the gems in Consul Smith's collection were modern.
Consul Smith's gems were bought by King George III in 1762.
Provenance
Acquired before 1802. Recorded in RAA Library, Catalogue, 1802. p.3.
Binding Note
20th-century half calf, green cloth-covered boards; red and green morocco spine-labels, lettered 'Gorii Dactyliotheca Smithiana Gemmarum Ectypa' and 'Vol. I. (II.)', spnes lettered 'R.A.'