Books on Art (3). De Lairesse, Gerard. a Treatise on the Art of Painting, in all its Branches; Accompanied by Seventy Engraved Plates, and exemplified by remarks on the paintings of the best masters... Revised, Corrected, and accompanied with an essay, by W.M.Craig.London, Edward Orme, 1817. Two volumes complete. Frontis. to Vol.1, 68 engraved plates [of 71 -see below], iv,296,iv,294pp., some intermittent spotting and signs of use, 4to., contemporary calf, sometime excellently re-cornered and rebacked to style with raised bands, gilt and blind, and contrasting labels, retaining marbled endpapers. Missing plates 4&5 [two plates on one leaf -proportions of the female body], plate 11, figures sleeping or 'Beseeching', and plate 66, painted figures in architecture (' - information implied in the text). There is no sign they were ever present in this copy.Gerard de Lairesse, 'The Dutch Poussin', (1640-1711) published 'Het Groot Schilderboek' in Amsterdam in 1707. It was one of the most widely translated and studied treatises of the eighteenth century. It was published in English as 'The Art of Painting', London, 1738. This revised 1817 edition uses the same plates, engraved by John Carwitham. William Craig, the editor of this edition, published several drawing and painting manuals of his own. [see Dnb]. For Lairesse's book see e.g. Francis Haskell 'History and Its Images', Yale, 1993; ÁNONYMOUS. the Self-Instructor, or, Young Man's Companion. a New and Improved Edition. London, Henry Fisher, n.d. [c.1821 - see note] Folding frontis. map of the world, extra engraved pictorial title page and six emblematic engraved plates after W.M.Craig, plate of geometry diagrams, (4),593,(3)pp., some intermittent minor browning, 8vo., modern half calf and marbled boards.The title continues -'Being An Introduction to All the Various Branches of Useful Learning & Knowledge. Containing Writing, Grammar, Arithmetic, Astronomy, Geography, Chronology, and Miscellaneous Articles. to Which Is Added the Artist's Assistant; Comprising the Arts of Drawing, Perspective, etching, Engraving, Mezzotinto Scraping, Painting, Dyeing, Colouring of Maps, &C. a Brief Account of Naval and Military Affairs. Also, Various Useful Medicinal Receipts.'There Were Several Editions of This Work. This One Seems to Be C.1821. the Pictorial Title Is Dated Thus (Some of the Plates Are Dated 1820) and the Latest Date in 'Historical Events' is September 1821; [Fitzgerald, Francis. Editor and contributor] the Artist's Repository and Drawing Magazine, Exhibiting the Principles of the Polite Arts in Their Various Branches. [Four Volumes Bound as Three] London, Printed for T.Williams (later, for C.Taylor) 1784-88.An eccentrically compiled set, bound from the parts. Vol.1: 65 plates, many folding, engraved title, printed title 'Heads of Lectures on the Polite Arts' (4),iv,214pp., then 'Miscellanies' pp.1-88 (no pages 41-48, a printing error as text is continuous). Vol.2: 67 plates, many folding, engraved title, '..Second Set of Lectures..' Title, 194pp., Then 'A Compendium of Colours, &C', Pp.9-16, 17-132.( the First 8 Pp. of a Preface to the Compendium Are Missing, Never Present in This Copy), Then 'Landscape' Pp.197-228. Vol. 3: 38 Plates, Engraved Title, Continuation of 'Miscellanies' Pp.89-188, Then Another Engraved Title 'Miscellanies...Part 2' 68pp. [Bound With] Vol.4: 30 Plates (Including 3 Plates Belonging in Vol.1 and Two Stubs Where Plates Have Been Removed), Printed Titlepage 'A Dictionary of Principles and Terms of Art...', Iv,159pp. Some Signs of Use, 8vo., Recently Rebound to Style in Quarter Dark Green Morocco, Marbled Boards, Vellum Tips, Original Spine Title Labels Retained. a Very Good Working Copy Only. the Distribution and Placing of the Plates Varies Between Sets. a Separate Fifth Volume Was Published in 1794 But It Is Scarce and Not Here Present. Loosely Inserted Is a Printout of the Estc Entry For This Title, Detailing Its Complex and Variable Collation. the Number