Skip to main content

This auction has ended. View lot details

You may also be interested in

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

Lot 37

SPANISH PORTRAITS
Retratos de los Espaňoles ilustres con un epitome de sus vidas, bound in 2 vol., Madrid, en la Imprenta Real, 1791

25 March 2015, 11:00 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £2,750 inc. premium

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Books & Manuscripts specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Ask about this lot

SPANISH PORTRAITS

Retratos de los Espaňoles ilustres con un epitome de sus vidas, bound in 2 vol., title with engraved armorial device, 108 fine engraved portraits after da Vinci, del Caastillo, Maca, Ramos and others, each with a leaf of descriptive text, near contemporary half russia, gilt panelled spines, rubbed [Brunet IV, 30505; Palau XVI, 263242, 'magnifica obra'], folio (417 x 288mm.), Madrid, en la Imprenta Real, 1791

Footnotes

An exceptionally fresh and clean copy of this finely engraved series of portraits of famous Spaniards from history, rarely found complete.

The idea for a series of portraits of great Spaniards was conceived by the State in 1788 and became the most important undertaking of the Real Calcografía over the next three years. Published in 18 parts containing 6 portraits each, the portraits were executed by the most distinguished artists of the time, such as M.S. Carmona, F. Selma, Francisco Muntaner, B. Vázquez, M. Brandi and Rafael Esteve.

The subjects include writers, artists, explorers, scientists and soldiers including Cortes, Pizarro, Cervantes, Quevedo, Lope de Vega, Calderon, Garcilaso de la Vega, Gongora, Fray Luis de Leon, Velazquez, Murillo, Antonio de Solis, Hurtado de Mendoza, Antonio de Ulloa, El Cid, Torquemada and many others.

Additional information

Bid now on these items