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Quinti Horatii Flacci Opera
Requires Photography
Opera
Quinti Horatii Flacci Opera
1733–37
Place of Publication: London, England
Medium/Technique
Illustrated book, entirely engraved
Dimensions
Overall (vol. 1): 25.2 x 15.2 x 3.2 cm (9 15/16 x 6 x 1 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
William A. Sargent Collection—Bequest of William A. Sargent
Accession Number37.1342.1
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsIllustrated books
Most books are printed from movable type, which means that each letter is made of a separate piece of metal. But this book features pages where everything—words and images—were engraved together on a copper plate. It’s an expensive and time-consuming way of producing a book, but it allowed the artist to mix Horace’s ancient poems with all sorts of appropriately classical decorations, derived from ancient coins, inscriptions, and gems.
Catalogue Raisonné
Brunet III, 320; ESTC (RLIN) T046226
Description(London: John Pine, 1733-1737) Octavo, two vols.; [v. 1] 149 leaves; [v. 2] 115 ll.; modern gilt-stamped brown morocco (Rivière & Son).
Text totally engraved in style of roman type; illustrations, decorative vignettes, and initials depicting antique statuary, coins, etc. First edition thus, completely designed, illustrated, and engraved by Pine. This is the first issue with reading in medallion in vol. 2, p. 108 "POST.EST." It was later corrected to "POTEST." At the end of vol. 2 is an engraved list of all the antiquities depicted in both volumes.
Text totally engraved in style of roman type; illustrations, decorative vignettes, and initials depicting antique statuary, coins, etc. First edition thus, completely designed, illustrated, and engraved by Pine. This is the first issue with reading in medallion in vol. 2, p. 108 "POST.EST." It was later corrected to "POTEST." At the end of vol. 2 is an engraved list of all the antiquities depicted in both volumes.
ProvenanceAcquired in 1919 by William A. Sargent, Boston (1858-1936), by whom bequeathed to MFA, November 17, 1937.