Moyen Universel De Pratiquer La Perspective Sur Les Tableaux, ou Surfaces Irregulieres.

Abraham Bosse

Chez ledit Bosse, 1653

Small octavo, 18.5 x 11 cm.  Bound in contemporary speckled leather boards, rebacked and rehinged. 5 raised bands, gilt spine with loss. Speckled page ends. 1 preliminary leaf, 75 [1] pages.  Illustrated with added engraved title and 32 leaves of plates.  Two folding plates.  Last few leaves and rear most plate damp stained.  This copy has the final folding plate dated 1669. 

Abraham Bosse's (1602-1676) rare sequel to Maniere universelle des principes de Mr. Desargues. Bosse applies Desargues' methods to angled and curved surfaces.  "His Moyen universelle... paid particular attention to the illusionistic projection of perspective onto ceilings and vaults of various configurations" (Kemp, Science of Art pp. 123-4).  Provenance: Early signature of Randolph Greenway of Thavies Inn, Holborn (London), 1725.  Includes card states, "From the library of John Bianchi, owner of the Merrymount Press, Boston.  Purchased from Starr bros., booksellers, Cambridge, Mass., in 1949."  Brunet I, 1127.