1822 Architectural Antiquities of Normandy

Description

First Edition, Illustrated, Publishers' Original Binding

This work was produced at the expense of Dawson Turner, who was Cotman's collaborator for this work. The duo travelled to Normandy together, and Turner wrote the introduction and accompanying text for the work. Cotman taught Turner and his children to draw. Really rather rare in this excellent condition and the original boards. Cotman produced these drawings from three visits to Normandy, the first with Turner in 1817 and two in 1818 and 1820. A collection of 100 plates listed to the contents pages. With fifty four plates to the first volume, as stated. There are technically fifty-one plates, with three double page plates. With forty-six plates to the second volume. To this volume there are forty-five images as plates 92-93 are a double page spread. Each plate has a contextual description by Dawson Turner. Turner selected the plates for this work himself. To the preface he notes 'in the descriptive portion of these volumes, attention has been almost exclusively directed to two points, the historical and the architectural. Locations depicted in the plates include Notre Dame in Rouen, St Sauveur le Viconte, Castle, the Tombstone of Queen Matilda, and more churches in Caen, Montivilliers, Lisieux and Fontaine-Le-Henri to name a few. Scarce in the original binding. A lovely work, which is a beautiful example of architectural drawings of Normandy.