Gemmae et Sculpturae Antiquae Depictae

Very good complete copy of this suite of 271 engraved plates of antique gems.

First Dutch edition in Latin, printed in Amsterdam, 1685. (First Italian-language edition published in Rome in 1657).

The designs by Leonard Agostini (Leonardo Augustino), engraved by Giovanni Battista Galestruzzi, original descriptive Italian text by Giovanni Bellori, the noted Italian antiquary, translated into Latin by Jacob Groenhoven (Jacobo Gronovio).

Two parts bound in one with all 271 engraved plates: engraved portrait of Agostini as frontispiece, second engraved allegorical frontispiece depicting Romulus and Remus, 217 plates in Part I numbered 1-3 and 1-214, 51 plates in Part II numbered 1-51, title page and divisional half-title with engraved vignette present in each part.

In conjunction with Bellori, Agostini published Gemme antiche figurate in two volumes in Rome in 1657 and 1669. The first part was devoted entirely to Cardinal Barberini's collection, which Agostini had assembled for the papal nephew, and the second part to cameos and other discoveries from the auguste ruine della gran Roma (the "august ruins of great Rome").

"The engravings are remarkable for 'relatively little detail' but done in a 'clever, fresh buoyant manner.'" (John Sinkankas quoting C. W. King.)

The plates in the first part are chiefly portrait busts of gods and goddesses, kings, queens and emperors, priests, bacchantes, dancers, poets, philosophers, soldiers and gladiators. Examples include Hercules, Bacchus, Pan, Seneca, Sappho, Psyche, Pallas, Cleopatra, Alexander the Great, Apollo, Medusa, etc. The plates in part two include more dynamic scenes of mythological tales such as Leda and the swan, a sacrifice to Priapus, Venus riding a chimera, Hermaphrodite with cupids, Emperor Trajan in battle, Egyptian priests, etc. Each plate with title in Italian above and type of gemstone below (jasper, agate, carnelian, chalcedony, etc.).

Leonard Agostini (1593-1669) was born in Boccheggiano, Grosseto, and served as antiquary to Cardinal Francesco Barberini to collect works for the Palazzo Barberini. Appointed superintendent of antiquities in the Papal States, he directed the excavations of the Forum and of the Roman baths near the church of San Lorenzo in Panisperna.

Giovanni Battista Galestruzzi (1618–1677) was an Italian painter and etcher of the Baroque period. Born in Florence, he was a pupil of the painter Francesco Furini, before moving to Rome where he joined the Accademia di San Luca in 1652.

Bookplate engraved by GJ (Graham Johnston) for Sir James Alexander Henryson-Caird (1847-1921), Scottish land-owner, farmer, and agronomist.

Contemporary full leather binding, spine with five raised bands, gilt title Augustini Gemmae, missing one cm of gilt tooling at top and bottom, spine rebacked at some time, lacking half of marble endpapers at front and back, armorial bookplate of Harryson Caird on front endpaper, manuscript inscription in Latin opposite frontis dated 14 September 1793, fine bright impressions of the copperplate engravings with little foxing or toning.