Paris: Gide Et J. Baudry, Libraires-Éditeurs 5, Rue Bonaparte Ancienne Ruse Des Petits-Augustins -, M DCCC LIII (- M DCCC LVIII)
Physical Description
2 vols. in one; 449 mm.
General Note
Vol. I: [4], 24, [130] p., [50] pl. (incl. 7 dble.). The fifty plates carry no numbers but are numbered in the 'Table Des Notices Et Des Planches' and in the descriptive letter-press (some plates carrying two images and being assigned two numbers): 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 17, 23, 25, 29, 40, 42, 49, 50 (dble.), 51, 52 (dble.), 53 (dble.), 54 (dble.), 57 (dble.), 59, 60, 62, 63, 65, 66, 71 (dble.), 75, 76, 78, 79 (dble.), 80, 82, 84 (numbered 'par erreur' as 64 in the letterpress text), 85, 86, 88, 93/94, 95, 104, 117/118, 120/121, 138/139, 147/148, 149, 153, 154, 161, 165, 167. - Vol. II: [4], [98] p., [41] pl. The plates carry no numbers but are numbered in the 'Table Des Notices Et Des Planches' and in the descriptive letterpress (some plates carrying two images and being assigned two numbers): 170-174, 180-2, 186, 189, 192, 193, 209/210, 221, 223, 225, 229-31, 237, 238, 276, 306/307, 308/309, 311, 313, 314, 320, 321, 323-5, 330-2, 348 (numbered 'par erreur' as 248 in the letterpress text), 349, 355, 361/362.
Contents
Vol. I: [Half-t., t.p.] - Les Éditeurs Au Public - [Text, 'Rembrandt', 'Extrait Des Registres De La Chambre Des Insolvables D'Amsterdam'] - [Plates, and descriptive letter-press]. - Vol. II: [Half-t., t.p.] - [Plates, and descriptive letter-press] - Table Des Notices Et Des Planches; Avis Au Relieur; [colophon].
Responsibility Note
In both volumes all plates are signed as photographed by Bisson Fr., printed by Lemercier and published by Gide et J. Baudry (although only the name Gide is given as publisher on the title-page of the second volume).
The text printer is named on the half-title versos and in the colophon: 'Paris. - Imprimerie De J. Claye Rue Saint-Benoit, 7.'
References
G. Schwarts, Rembrandt: all the etchings reproduced in true size (1977); C. White, Rembrandt as an etcher (2 v., 1969); L. Münz, A critical catalogue of Rembrandt's etchings (2 v., 1952).
Summary Note
Between pl. 167 and pl. 170 occur a second half-title and title-page, seemingly indicating a second volume.The title of this second volume reads, 'L'Œuvre De Rembrandt Reproduit Par la Photographie Décrit Et Commenté Par M. Charles Blanc Ancien Directeur Des Beaux-Arts L'Annonciation Aux Bergers. Fuite En Egypte ... Paris Gide, Libraire-Éditeur Rue Bonaparte, 5 - M DCCC LVIII'. The work appears to have been published serially, as the 'Avis Au Relieur' refers to 'la vingtième et dernière livraison'. This Avis reads, 'Les treize planches de double format, ne puvant être pliées, forment un album à part; elles doivent être classées dans l'ordre indiqué sur le grand titre contenue dans la vingtième et dernière livraison.' (In the Royal Academy's copy the title-page of the second volume (1858) lists thirteen titles; but the set contains only seven double plates, which are bound in with the others in the order called for by the 'Table Des Notices Et Des Planches'.)
In the 'Table Des Notices Et Des Planches' in addition to the number of 'notre catalogue' the compiler gives the number assigned to the etching in the catalogues of Bartsch, Claussin and Wilson.
The plates show the following images (as listed in the Table): (first volume) Hierologie Ancien Et Nouveau Testament (pl. 2-80); Fictions Et Fantaisies (82-121); Gueux (138-149); Sujets Libres Et Figures Académiques (153-167); (second volume) Portraits (170-309); Paysages Et Animaux (311-362).
Provenance
9 January 1854: 'Ordered to purchase for the Library Photographic imitations of the ... Rembrandt Etchings' (RA Council Minutes, XI, 48). The purchase of the work however was postponed until 1876 (see 'Librarian's Report. List of Books Purchased and Presented', RA Annual Report for 1876, p. 34).
Binding Note
19th-century quarter red morocco, red cloth-covered boards; spine lettered 'Ch. Blanc - L'Œuvre De Rembrandt'.
Bible
Etchings (prints) - Netherlands - History - 17th century
Celebrities - Portraits - Landscapes - Animals
Catalogues - France - 19th century
Pictorial works - Photographs - Photomechanical prints - France - 19th century