Ovid's Metamorphoses In Latin And English, Translated By The Most Eminent Hands. With Historical explications Of the Fables, Written In French By The Abbot Banier, Member Of The Academy Of Inscriptions And Belles Lettres. Translated Into English. Adorned with Sculptures, by B. Picart, and other able Masters. Volume The First. (Second.)
Amsterdam:: Printed for the Wetsteins and Smith., MD CC XXXII.
Physical Description
2 vols. in one; 451mm. (Quarto).
General Note
Vol. I: [26], 247, [1] p., frontis.: illus. - Vol. II: [2], 249-524 (incl. 3 leaves of pl.), [4] p.: illus. Three leaves between pages 264 and 271 are included in the pagination as pp. [265-70] but do not carry page-numbers or letterpress text. They each carry two prints on their rectos and are blank on the verso. ESTC describes copies having simply 'plate'.
Contents
Vol. I: [Half-title, frontis., t.p., dedic.] - The Bookseller's Preface To This Edition - Mr. Banier's Preface To The French Translation - Contents - [Text of books 1-7, with illus.]. - Vol. II: [T.p.] - [Text of books 8-15, with illus.] - Index.
Responsibility Note
The names of the translators are given in the list of Contents as Dryden, Addison, Eusden, Arthur Mainwaring, Croxall, Tate, Stonestreet, Vernon, Gay, Pope, Stephen Harvey, Congreve, Ozel, Temple Stanyan, , Catcot, Rowe, Samuel Garth, Welsted.
The frontispiece is signed as made by B. Picart. The six plates on pages [265, 267, 269] are all signed as painted by C. Le Brun and engraved by Iakob Folkema.
Of the 124 illustrations most are unsigned by a draughtsman, but some are signed as designed by G. Maas, one as designed by Jul. Romain, two as designed by G. Maas and drawn by J. de Wit, one as drawn by 'HA', one as painted by C. le Brun, one as made by B. Picart, one as designed by P. Testa and drawn by B. Picart, one as designed by S. Le Clerc, one as designed by B. Picart. Many are signed by their engravers - Philip à Gunst (one as directed by B. Picart and engraved by Phil. à Gunst), J. Vandelaar (or I. Wandelaar), Martin Bouche, Jan Schenck, 'MB', Petr. Paul. Bouche, Iakob Folkema, W. Jongman, Fred. Bouttats.
The title-page vignette of Volume I is signed as drawn by B. v. Overbeke and engraved by F. Mulder; that of Volume II is signed as drawn by B. v. Overbeke and engraved by G. v.d. Gouwen. The dedication headpiece is signed as designed by L.F. Dubourg and made by B. Bernaerts. Many tailpieces are signed 'VLS'.
The book is dedicated by the publishers, R. and J. Wetstein and W. Smith, to the Countess of Pembroke.
References
ESTC, T145731
For iconography of classical myth see the bibliographic note on V. Caratari, Les images des dieux (1581).
Summary Note
The publication-date of 1732 is carried by both title-plates. The date of 1731 is carried by Picart's frontispiece and his illustrations on pages 292 and 436; the date of 1729 is carried by the first plate on page [275].
The text is printed in double columns, the Latin and English verse in parallel.
Provenance
Acquired between 1769 and 1802. Recorded in A Catalogue Of The Library In The Royal Academy, London (1802).
Binding Note
20th-century calf, red morocco spine-label lettered 'Ovid Par Picart'.
Subject
Mythology, Greek - Iconography
Latin poetry - 1st century
Translations into English - English poetry - Translations from Latin - Great Britain - 18th century
Illustrated books - Pictorial works - Great Britain - 18th century