Travels in Greece, or an Account of a Tour Made at the Expense of the Society Of Dillettanti by Chandler, Richard - 1776

Dublin: Mssrs Price, Whitestone, Sleater Etc.etc., 1776 Richard Chandler, 1738-1810, classical antiquary and traveller. " In 1764 Chandler was introduced to the society of Dilettanti by Robert Wood, the editor of the 'Ruins of Palmyra' and was commissioned by the society to undertake a tour of exploration at its expense in Asia Minor and Greece. This was the first independent mission of the society (which had been formed about 1733 by some gentlemen fond of classical travel and antiquities). Chandler was accompanied by Nicholas Revett, an architect who had already given proof of his abilities in connection with Stuart"s 'Ruins of Athens', and by a young painter of talent named Pars. Chandler himself was appointed treasurer for the little party, and had the command of the expedition. The instructions drawn up by the Dilettanti Society (17 May 1764) directed the travelers to make Smyrna their headquarters, and thence '.to make excursions to the several remains of antiquity in that neighborhood; to make exact plans and measurements, to make accurate drawings of the bas-reliefs and ornaments, .copying all the inscriptions you shall meet with, and keeping minute diaries.' Chandler and his companions embarked at Gravesend on 9 June 1764, and spent about a year in Asia Minor. Among the places which they visited, and which Chandler in his "Travels" more or less fully describes, are: Tenedos, Alexandria Troas, Chios, Smyrna, Teos, Priene, Iasus (in Caria), Mylassa (Caria), Stratonicea, Laodiceia (ad Lycum), Hierapolis, Sardes, and Ephesus, where Chandler asks if a wonder of the world, the temple of Artemis, can really have 'vanished like a phantom, without leaving a trace behind'.The party left Smyrna for Athens on 20 Aug. 1765. At Athens Chandler expresses his regret that 'so much admirable sculpture as is still extant about (the Parthenon) should be all likely to perish as it were immaturely from ignorant contempt and brutal violence' .'We purchased two fine fragments of the frieze (of the Parthenon) which we found inserted over the doorways in the town, and were presented with a beautiful trunk which had fallen from the metopes, and lay neglected in the garden of a Turk'. Besides Athens, Chandler and his friends visited other parts of Greece Proper; they had originally intended to proceed from Zante to Ithaca, Cephallenia, and Corcyra (Corfu), but the plan was given up, partly on account of 'the infirm state of health under which we laboured' They embarked on 1 Sept. 1766 (new style), reaching England on 2 Nov. in that year. Col. Leake has devoted some criticism to Chandler's researches in Attica. The researches of Chandler and of his predecessor, Stuart, in connection with the topography of Athens 'have cleared up' (he says) 'much that had been left obscure and faulty by Spon and Wheler, and in some instances Chandler's superior learning enabled him to correct the mistaken impressions of Stuart, but others he has left uncorrected, and he has added many errors and negligences of his own, as well in the application of ancient evidence as in regard to the actual condition of the ruined buildings.' [Dictionary of National Biography]. This Dublin edition was published without maps. Nice clean copy, minor foxing, very tight in what seems a 19th C. binding, which has been neatly repaired with the spine replaced. Name and small label of previous owner on ffep. Binder label on last endpaper.319p. Maps are missing, else near fine.. First Thus. Quarter Leather. Very Good/No Jacket.