1797 The Gentleman's and Connoisseur's Dictionary of Painters A Complete Collection and Account of the Most Distinguished Artists Who have Flourished in the Art of Painting

Description

Leather Binding, Scarce

A scarce edition published by Spilsbury. Direct from the Regency library of Elizabeth Greenly, later Lady Elizabeth Coffin Greenly. Elizabeth Greenly, born at Titley Court, Herefordshire, was a noted and varied collector. She kept prolific diaries from 1784 until her death in 1839 which included her responses to current events and occasions in her daily life. Among the diaries many names and anecdotes of celebrities of the time appear, including Lord Byron, Marie Antoinette, Mary Wollstonecraft and Hannah More. She was known to comment on customs of foreign countries to which she and her friends had travelled, and had a keen interest in scientific discoveries and advancements including medicine and archaeology. The Greenly library contents show Elizabeth Greenly's numerous interests including: Welsh causes, Science, topography, travel, Bibliana and literature, particularly female poets. The library contains many first editions of contemporary works, and many are signed or contain her bookplate. The library contained over 1000 volumes which show the diversity and depth of her interests and give an insight into the life of this fascinating collector. These works come directly from the library of the Titley Court estate. Pilkington was a satirist, art historian and church minister. He is best known for his Dictionary of Painters. This work was widely published through several editions. The dictionary contains biographies of the artists and critical rankings of their ability as well as an analysis of the art market in the Netherlands and England. The artists discussed in this dictionary are from across Europe and there is an additional index to the rear which lists every artist discussed alphabetically.