Sculptura; Or, The History and Art Of Chalcography, And Engraving in Copper: With An ample Enumeration of the most renowned Masters and their Works. To which is annexed, A New Manner of Engraving, or Mezzotinto, Communicated by His Highness Prince Rupert To The Author of this Treatise, John Evelyn, Esq; The Second Edition. Containing some Corrections and Additions taken from the Margin of the Author's printed Copy; an Etching of his Head, by Mr. Worlide; an exact Copy of the Mezzotinto done by Prince Rupert, by Mr. Houston; a Translation of all the Greek and Latin Passages; and Memoirs Of The Author's Life. Implevi eum Spiritu Dei, sapientia, et intelligentia, et scientia in omni opere, ad excogitandum quicquid fabrefieri potest ex`auro, et argento, et ære, marmore, et gemmis, et diversitate lignorum. Exodus, cap. xxxi, et cap. xxxv.
London:: Printed for J. Payne, at Pope's Head, in Pater-Noster Row., M.DCC.LV.
Physical Description
[iv], xxxvi, 140 p., frontis. (port.), 2 pl. (1 fold.); 181 mm. (Octavo.)
Contents
[Frontis., t.p., dedic.] - The Life Of John Evelyn, Esq; - The Following Corrections And Additions Are Taken From The Margin Of The Author's Printed Copy, Communicated By Sir John Evelyn, Bart. - Errata; Directions to the Binder - [Dedic. (dated 1662)] - An Account Of Signor Giacomo Favi, By Monsieur Sorbiere - Authors and Books which have been consulted for this Treatise - [Text] - The Contents.
Responsibility Note
The frontispiece portrait of Evelyn is signed 'Thos. Worlidge fecit 1723'; the other two plates are unsigned.
This edition is dedicated by John Payne (the publisher) to Sir John Evelyn, Bart., grandson of the author.
References
ESTC, T113409
Summary Note
Though this account of print-making is superseded, the work is still valued for its celebrated plate of the Head of the Executioner of John the Baptist engraved in mezzotint by Prince Rupert of the Rhine.
The author was a collector of prints, and himself made some etchings (now in the British Museum, London). He was a member of the Royal Society and a friend of Pepys and Wren; and his wide interests are reflected in the title of his books - Sculptura (1662), Sylva (1664), Numismata (1697).
Reproductions
An electronic reproduction was published in 2003 (Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale). A microfilm version was published in 1986 (Woodbridge CT, USA: Research Publications Inc.). Republished in 1906 as Evelyn's Sculptura, with the unpublished second part, ed. C.F. Bell (Oxford: Clarendon Press).
Provenance
Inscribed in ink on a front endpaper, 'To the Gentlemen of the Academy for the Improvement of Painting, Sculpture, & Architecture, This Book is presented by John Payne, Bookseller in Pater-noster Row, as a Testimony of the Respect & Gratitude which he thinks due to them as the Authors of so excellent , useful, and honourable an Institution. April 10th. 1755'. Recorded in A Catalogue Of The Library In The Royal Academy, London (1802).
Binding Note
18th-century red morocco, gilt-tooled on upper and lower covers and spine; black morocco spine-label, lettered 'Evelyn Sculptura'.