Vertu

029018 — London; Nd ca.1850: George Virtue. Folio. Frontispiece portrait of David Wilkie engraved by Francis Holl after a painting by Thomas Phillips. Engraved vignette title page and regular title page. 4 unnumbered pages 93 pages 80 unnumbered pages and 67 unnumbered leaves of plates each with overlay sheets. The Wilkie Gallery with biographical and critical notices. This very large volume is embellished not only with the best pictures of Sir David Wilkie who had passed away in 1841 but the remarkable engravings of Francis Holl 1815-1884 who became a successful and fashionable engraver working for book as well as print publishers. He worked for twenty-five years engraving the queen's pictures and received royal commissions to execute private plates of portraits of the royal family. He engraved many plates after works by famous artists of the day. Between 1856 and 1883 he exhibited twenty engravings at the Royal Academy and was finally elected an associate engraver in 1883. Virtue and company made him the major artist for their finest books. Besides the full page 67 steel engravings they are accompanied with biographical and critical notices. His work on the near East and Turkey are included in this volume. Bound in publisher's full brown morocco decorated in blind central gilt lettering and design raised bands spine decorated in blind title gilt marbled endpapers all edges gilt wear to spine ends some rubbing or staining to binding upper joint with early repair some marginal light scattered foxing not extending to plates except possibly one or two small spots. A very good copy with extraordinary plates. George Virtue unknown books