Rome. BENOIST. Rome dans sa grandeur.

3 volumes in Folio, 490x340 mm. Lavish publisher’s binding from the Charpentier atelier in quarter hazel shagreen and marbled cardboard, spine with 4 nervs and blind tooling with gilt title and coat of arms of Pope Pius IX, polychrome marbled endpapers. Half-title and titlepage printed in red and black with vignette engraved on steel in each volume.

Vol. I: pp. IV, 90, 72. Headpieces, initial and illustrations engraved on steel, 28 full page plates.

Vol. II: pp. 214, 32, 40. Headpieces, initial and illustrations engraved on steel, 34 full page plates.

Vol. III: pp. 68, 74, 18, 28, 24, 36, 2 blank, Headpieces, initial and illustrations engraved on steel, 38 full page plates.

A total of 100 lithographic plates, including the map of Rome at the end of the third volume.

Scraped spines, little damage on end spine on the third volume. Tear restored on half title and titlepage on the third volume, spread foxing, overall a good specimen.

Splendid collection with Roman views. The three volumes concern Ancient Rome, Christian Rome and Modern Rome: views of the city, landscapes, buildings and monuments are depicted. Sepia plates engraved by Felix and Philippe Benoist based on drawings by the major French artists of the time. Texts by various authors including Franz de Champagny, Eugène de La Gournerie, Edmond Lafond, Henri de Maguelonne, A. F. Rio and others. The work was presented on 17 February 1870 on the occasion of the inauguration of the Roman Exhibition of works of all art created for Catholic worship, commissioned by Pope Pius IX to honor the First Vatican Ecumenical Council. Philippe Benoist, French painter and lithographer, Geneva 1813 – Paris 1905, pupil of Louis Daguerre, created several works dedicated to cities such as Rome, Venice, Paris and Pompeii, reproducing their monuments and views.