1771 Critical Account of the Situation and Destruction by the First Eruptions of Mount Vesuvius, of Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Stabia; the Late Discovery of Their Remains; the Subterraneous Works Carried on in Them; and the Books, Domestick, Utensils, and Other Remarkable Greek and Roman Antiquities Thereby Happily Recovered; the Form and Connection of the Ancient Characters Bening Faithfully Preserved, in a Letter, (Originally in German) to Count Bruhl, of Saxony.

Description

Leather Binding, Very Scarce

A very scarce work. ESTC citation number T131014. Collated, complete. A fascinating look into the first eruption of Vesuvius, in 79AD. This eruption is one of the deadliest in European history. It affected many cities, but the best known are Pompeii, and Herculaneum, as well as Stabia. This is an interesting early work on the extinct cities, written not long after the lost cities were rediscovered. This work was first published in German in 1762, and was translated into English and French, becoming an incredibly popular work. This work is a detailed look into the explosion, and how it ruined the cities. The author also discusses the re-discovery of the cities, and the discovery of antiquities and other objects found on the sites. Written by Johann Joachim Winckelmann, a German art historian and archaeologist. He was a pioneering Hellenist, who is known for articulating the difference between Greek, Greco-Roman, and Roman art. He is also considered to be one of the founders of scientific archaeology. Two bookplates to the front pastedown, 'John Gough', and 'Harry Arnold, Arnbarrow'. Prior owner's stamp to the recto to the front endpaper, 'C. H. Baldwin'. Prior owner's stamp to the tail of page 56, 'John Gough, Kendal'. Prior owner's ink inscription to the reverse of page 125, and to the recto to the rear endpaper, 'Rachel Barnard'. John Gough was a blind English natural and experimental philosopher.