LUCRÈCE. *Della natura delle cose*, Book Six... Amsterdam (P - Lot 77

LUCRÈCE. *Della natura delle cose*, Book Six... Amsterdam (Paris), 1754. Two large 8vo volumes (224 x 141 mm), contemporary red morocco binding, covers adorned with a wide gold lace border featuring small ironwork motifs and interior corner fleurons, ribbed spine decorated with title and volume number labels in green morocco, inner lace, gilt edges. First printing of the finest edition of Lucretius’s great poem. Printed on fine Dutch paper, it is illustrated with two frontispieces and two title pages decorated by Eisen, six figures by Cochin and Le Lorrain, seven vignettes by Cochin and Eisen, and five tailpieces by Cochin, Eisen, and Vassé. “The illustrations in this book are truly beautiful” (Cohen). The first engraving, depicting Mars and Venus, is considered one of the most perfect examples of 18th-century gallant illustration. A masterpiece of scientific poetry, the text expresses the philosophy of Epicurus, of whom Lucretius (98–55 B.C.) was the principal disciple. Its publication as a deluxe edition was intended at the time as a striking rebuttal to Cardinal de Polignac’s *Anti-Lucretius*, which defended Cartesian ideas. The excellent Italian translation by Alexandre Marchetti, renowned for its fidelity, precision, and elegant style, was chosen by the publishers to compensate for the lack of a good French version. A very fine copy bound in a sumptuous morocco leather binding with elaborate lacework, attributed to Douceur. Ex-libris from the Horace Landau Library (not listed in the catalog). Acquired by Émile Rossignol in 1949.

Stima:€2,000

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