XAVERY, Gerard Joseph – Het Italjaansch Tooneel Voortreffelijk in 16 verbeeldingen uytgevoert, Verrijkt met Nederduytsche en Fransche vaarzen. – Bound with: Het nieuw geopend Italiaans Toneel, vertonende de wonderlijke ziekte bezwangerheid en baring van Arlequin: benevens de opvoeding van des zelfs Jongen Zoon. Amsterdam, Petrus Schenk II, c. 1740. Folio [360 x 255 mm]. Contemporary vellum binding. Engraved titles, 16 engraved plates (each).

Sammelband with two very rare plate series illustrating the Italian Commedia dell’Arte. The images are engraved after G.J. Xavery (1700-1747), Antwerp-born painter, active in The Hague. The first series shows the trials in love of Colombine and several lovers such as Harlequin, the doctor and Pierrot. In the second series, Harlequin is pregnant and lays six eggs, of which only one is hatched. He breastfeeds his son, changes his diapers and punishes him, but also teaches him to read. The series involves other Commedia dell’Arte figures, such as Colombine, the Doctor, Scaramouche and Pierrot.

Bibliography: Hollstein XXV (Schenck) 1949-1982; Wurzbach II, p.561, no.2/ 3; P.-L. Duchartre – La comedie italienne (1925); R.L. Erenstein – De invloed van de commedia dell’arte in Nederland to 1800 (2001).

sold/verkauft