London, Septimus Prowett, 1827
A handsome copy of this famed illustrated edition of 'one of the greatest works of the human imagination' (DNB).
John Martin (1789-1854) was an English painter, engraver and illustrator celebrated for his typically vast and dramatic paintings of religious subjects and fantastic compositions, populated with minute figures placed in imposing landscapes. His work for Septimus Prowett was the height of his engraving career and stands as one of the greatest illustrated editions of Paradise Lost ever produced, alongside those of Blake and Doré.
First edition thus; 2 vols, folio (38 x 27.5 cm); half-titles, 24 mezzotint engravings, scattered light foxing, mainly to margins, light offsetting from plates (as often); 19th-century straight-grained maroon morocco gilt, covers with gilt panel with floral tooling within gilt borders, spine in six compartments, gilt lettered direct in second and fifth, others richly gilt with floral tooling, raised bands ruled in gilt, gilt inner dentelles, all edges gilt, corners slightly bumped, slight rubbing heads of spines and extremities, brown endpapers; a very good set.
John Martin (1789-1854) was an English painter, engraver and illustrator celebrated for his typically vast and dramatic paintings of religious subjects and fantastic compositions, populated with minute figures placed in imposing landscapes. His work for Septimus Prowett was the height of his engraving career and stands as one of the greatest illustrated editions of Paradise Lost ever produced, alongside those of Blake and Doré.
First edition thus; 2 vols, folio (38 x 27.5 cm); half-titles, 24 mezzotint engravings, scattered light foxing, mainly to margins, light offsetting from plates (as often); 19th-century straight-grained maroon morocco gilt, covers with gilt panel with floral tooling within gilt borders, spine in six compartments, gilt lettered direct in second and fifth, others richly gilt with floral tooling, raised bands ruled in gilt, gilt inner dentelles, all edges gilt, corners slightly bumped, slight rubbing heads of spines and extremities, brown endpapers; a very good set.
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