Collection Précieuse et Enluminée des Fleurs les plus Belles et les plus Curieuses, qui se cultivent tant dans les Jardins de la Chine que dans ceux de l'Europe. Partie II: PLANTES LES PLUS BELLES QUI SE CULTIVENT DANS LES JARDINS DE L'EUROPE.
Eur 18,000 / USD 18,900
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Paris, Debure l'aîné et chez l'Auteur, (1776-1779). Folio (450 x 285mm). With 1 engraved title and 100 beautifully hand-coloured engraved plates. Contemporary red morocco, richly gilt spine with gilt-lettered red label, sides with gilt borders, gilt edges.
The lovely boldly coloured plates, all with yellow border, show ornamental flowers together with insects, butterflies or birds with slight landscape backgrounds.
The work was published in two volumes of which the first concerns plants of China and the second plants of Europe. Both volumes have a distinctly oriental flavour. It shows Buchoz' vivid interest in Chinese culture at its best. In this he follows the example of Voltaire, who made France aware of the existence and value of 'Chinoiserie'. Buchoz is the first to produce a flowerbook in this tradition. The plates 'have the decorative qualities which we have always associated with Far Eastern art' (Blunt and Stearn). The lovely boldly coloured plates, all with yellow border, show ornamental flowers together with insects, butterflies or birds with slight landscape backgrounds.
These two volumes of plants of China and Europe are the best Buchoz ever made and leave all his other work as far as elaborate colouring and decorative value is concerned far behind. Pierre-Joseph Buchoz (1731 - 1807) was a French physician, lawyer and naturalist. Title page with small repair, names of plants in manuscript below illustrations. A very fine and beautifully bound copy.
Nissen BBI, 282; Dunthorne 60.