Nouveau Recueil de Vues des Principales Eglises Places Rues et Palais de Rome Moderne

The atlas volume of Barbault's great set of views of Rome. This work contains impressive views of important churches, places, palaces, fountains and bridges of Renaissance and Baroque Rome. The high quality plates were made by Domenico Montagi and an entire team of engravers. There was a later edition of this work published in 1773 by Bourchard but it lacked the text captions and the quality of the engravings was inferior.

Jean Barbault ( 1718-1762) was a French artist working in Rome. He was part of the circle of artists which included Piranesi, Duflos and Legeay and contributed to Piranesi's Vedute di Roma and also collaborated on Antichita romane. His work was extremely successful and though influenced heavily by Piranesi, he is an impressive and energetic topographical artist in his own right. 'Barbault's presentation of views and fragments of ancient sculpture are extraordinarily tactile and appealing' (Millard).

First edition; landscape folio (53 x 68 cm); title in red and black with engraved vignette by Montagu, in total 44 plates, faint waterstain to top margin occasionally creeping into image but not damaging appeal, faint rubbing to crease of title page, no text; contemporary full calf, gilt spine in eight compartments, gilt lettering piece, all edges marbled, spine and extremities a little worn, a very good copy.

Berlin Catalogue 2712; Fowler 37; Millard IV, 14.