Collection des desseins des figures colossales et des groupes qui ont été faits de neige dans plusieurs ruës [...] de la ville d'Anvers, le mois de janvier 1772, par différens artistes & élèves de l'Académie royale de dessein établie dans la même ville [...].

8vo; 24 pl. (title browned, most edges sl. soiled and frayed, some pl. sl. age-toned).

Loose. Uncut, unopened copy.

Only edition of this delightful and rare work being a testimony of a unique event during a harsh winter in 18th-c. Antwerp. In January 1772 artists of the Antwerp Academy presented ice and snow sculptures in the frozen streets and courtyards. Anxious to preserve the memory of these ephemeral works, Robiano (1733-1785) asked the canon Antoon de Vries to write a descriptive comment to explain the sculptures and the names of the artists. They represented classical figures and scenes: fountains and statues, allegories of the Scheldt, a battle of centaurs, etc. 24 sculptures were engraved by A. Cardon after J. Rubens, J.P. Borrekens, and other artists. The work is dedicated to Charles de Lorraine, whose portrait is found on pl. 15. Text printed within border of type ornaments.
Ref. Berlin Kat. 4222. - Anet. - Opac KBR ("the work is often erroneously attributed to Eugène Jean Baptiste de Robiano"). - BnF. - STCV.