STUNNING FIRST EDITION OF ALEXANDRE DU SOMMERARD’S ‘LES ARTS AU MOYEN AGE’ TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER IN NORFOLK
An extremely rare and sumptuously-bound five-volume first edition of Alexandre du Sommerard’s Les Arts au Moyen Age is to go under the hammer at Keys in Norfolk – with a pre-sale estimate of £8,000-£10,000.
Published between 1838 and 1846, the work gives a general overview of medieval art and architectural history, illustrated with 618 plates, 512 of which are hand-coloured.
Over his entire adult life, Du Sommerard (1779–1842) collected objects ranging from panel paintings to armour, a collection which found a permanent home in 1832 at the Abbés de Cluny, a 15th century palace which remains a museum today. His approach to curation was innovative for his age, placing items in the palace according to their historical functions, and reconstructing rooms with period furniture.
“This is an absolutely stunning work,” said Keys head of books Andrew Lindsay-Bullock. “The plates were made using the then new techniques of lithography and chromolithography, with the aim of creating an amazing level of verisimilitude. The effect is luminous; marble reliefs seem to leap off the page.
“A later edition of this work was published in smaller format, with fewer plates, but the true first edition is very rare. It is beautifully bound by John Wright of London, in full red Morocco, marbled endpapers and gilt edges and inner dentelles.”
The five volumes, which are in Elephant Folio (555mm x 270mm) will go on sale in Keys two day Books & Ephemera Sale on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th February at the firm’s Aylsham, Norfolk salerooms, and online at www.the-saleroom.com.
Full details are available at www.keysauctions.co.uk.