Artistic and Monumental Spain
Villaamil's romantic spanish landscapes
This illustrated travelogue presents a captivating glimpse into Spain’s nostalgic medieval cityscapes, captured in the 19th century before transformative reforms reshaped most Spanish cities. Comprising one hundred forty-four engravings showcasing landscapes, cityscapes, and majestic interiors, this collection offers a unique perspective. The majority of these stunning paintings were crafted by Jenaro Pérez de Villaamil, a notable Spanish painter renowned for Romantic-style landscapes and architectural scenes.
As such, it stands as a testament to Spain’s architectural richness and embodies the surge in 19th century travel, made feasible by technological advancements.
The majority of the paintings and resultant plates were created by Villaamil, indicated by the signature “GP de Villaamil pinxit”, while some plates originated from drawings by other artists. This Romantic masterpiece showcases exquisite landscapes, cityscapes, and opulent interiors, emphasizing cities like Toledo (with forty-four views) and Burgos (with nineteen views), among other regions such as Castile, Aragon, Andalusia, the Basque country, Navarre, and Galicia. Rather than aiming for a comprehensive survey of all Spanish regions, the selection focused on locations renowned for their aesthetic allure and Romantic medieval charm. This compilation offers a captivating overview of Spain’s remarkable architectural legacy.
During the Romantic era of the 19th century, illustrated travel books gained popularity, coinciding with a time when travel became safer, more convenient, and accessible. The three volume set, Artistic and Monumental Spain, is the collaborative work of Jenaro Pérez de Villaamil (1807-1854), a Romantic painter specializing in landscapes and architecture, and Patricio de la Escosura (1807-1878), a multifaceted figure in politics, journalism, and Romantic literature. Published between 1842 and 1850 by the Parisian printing house of Veith and Hauser, this compilation comprises one hundred forty-four engravings, offering valuable insights into Spain’s history, art, and architectural heritage. It provides a vivid portrayal of Spain before significant 19th century urban reforms reshaped its cities.
The facsimile edition of the Artistc and Monumental Spain is complemented by a bookcase for its conservation.
This facsimile is a unique edition of 997 books numbered and authenticated by notarial deed.
Details
Tech Sheet
DATE:
1840-1844.
ORIGINAL KEPT:
Bilbao’s Casino Library.
LANGUAGE:
Spanish and French.
FORMAT:
548 x 385 mm.
PAGES:
288 pages in 3 volumes.
ILUMINATION:
144 lithographs.
BINDING:
Bound in Dutch style in silk and with indigo-dyed leather adorned with prints and reliefs.
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