Bellicard, Jérôme-Charles. 1726-1786.

[Observations Sur Les Antiquités De La Ville D’Herculanum].

France, not before 1754].

8vo (185 x 118 mm.). MANUSCRIPT. [ii blank], [iv], [21], [1 blank], [59], [1 blank], [25], [7 blank]p. In a single cursive hand, corrections and underlining in yellow ink.

Contemporary mottled sheep (scuffed, edges worn), gilt spine and citron morocco label, edges sprinkled red.

With: 
            Architecture militaire ou traité de fortifications.  [France, 1750s]. 8vo manuscript. [132], [12 blank]p. In the same cursive hand, SIXTEEN NUMBERED FOLDING ENGRAVED PLATES (L.-F. Baour) with nearly one hundred figures of fortifications and military equipment keyed to the text.

            Ad I: An early copy of this unauthorized report on the archeological site of Herculaneum, offering the first comprehensive description of the buildings, art and artifacts unearthed there between 1738 and 1750.
            Architect J.-C. Bellicard and royal artist Chas.-Nic. Cochin (1715- 90) accompanied the brother of Louis XV’s mistress, the marquis de Marigny, on his Italian Grand Tour (1749-51). During their two-month stay in Naples, they studied the Herculaneum excavations, then subject to a government ban on any reproduction or description in print. They later combined sketches drawn from memory and information obtained clandestinely to publish accounts in English (1753) and French (1754). This manuscript follows the French edition but without the illustrations. In good condition.
¶Gordon, “Subverting the Secrets of Herculaneum” in Antiquity Recovered edd. Gardner Coates & Seydl 37-57.
            Ad II: UNPUBLISHED HYBRID MILITARY ARCHITECTURE MANUAL. The text provides practical exercises and treats regular and irregular fortifications, defensive barriers, sieges and Vauban’s methods. The inserted engravings of fortified structures and siege weapons were likely sold independently to students. In good condition (one plate slightly browned and split along the fold).

Item #01370

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