La vie des peintres flamands, allemands et hollandois, avec des portraits [...].

4 vol., 8vo: xvi-429-[11], [4]-480-[8], xvi-402-[6-2 bl.], viii-302-[24] pp. (some min. spotting and browning).

Contemp. mottled calf, gilt orn. spines with 5 raised bands, red leather title labels, marbled endpapers, all edges red (joints first vol. splitting to split, def. at heads and tails).

First edition of this reference work by the French painter J.-B. Descamps (1714-1791) containing numerous biographies of painters in alphabetical order. Engr. ill.: front. by Lebas and 2 headpieces by Lemire after Descamps, 168 portraits by Ficquet, Gaillard, Legrand e.a. after Descamps, Eisen and Campion showing i.a. Quinten Metsys, Bernard van Orley, Maarten van Heemskerck, H. Holbein, P. Brueghel, Maarten de Vos, Abraham Bloemaert, A. Van Dyck, Jan Steen, Gérard de Lairesse. Titles in red & black.
Ref. Brunet II:608. - Cohen 287. - Conlon 53:598. - Arntzen & Rainwater H88.
Prov. Rop. Chantrett (old ownership entry).
Joined, same author - Voyage pittoresque de la Flandre et du Brabant, avec des réflexions relativement aux arts & quelques gravures. Paris, Desaint, Saillant, Pissot, Durand, 1769. 8vo: xxii-[2]-328-[11-1 bl.] pp.; 6 pl. (some very min. spotting and browning). Contemp. tree-calf, gilt-ruled border on covers, gilt decor. flat spine, black leather title label, marbled endpapers (front joint cracked, def. at head and tail, corners rubbed and bumped). First edition. Ill. with an armorial engr. headpiece by Le Mire and 5 engr. plates mostly showing pulpits; complete with the fold. map. The work lists the artistic riches of Brussels, Leuven, Mechelen, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Mons, Tournai, Dixmude, etc. Title in red & black. Ref. Conlon 69:728. - Cohen 287. - BnF. (5 vol.)