Art of Drawing and Colouring, from Nature, Birds, Beasts, Fishes, and Insects

Description:

'with Plain and Coloured Drawings, from Original Paintings, by Morland, Vernet, Howett, Le Cave, &c.' Includes 24 lithographed plates, each in two states (hand-coloured and uncoloured, 48 in total). The subjects of this volume include wild and domestic animals, birds, fish and insects. Each lesson contains instruction on how to draw and colour a particular subject, illustrated by a pair of identical lithographs (one coloured, one uncoloured). In addition to art instruction, Whittock shares his views on a range of topics. For example 'Nothing can be more opposed to good taste than the swarms of pictures of monkeys that have lately been introduced: they are not only disgusting in their action, but, from their disagreeable colour, can never be pleasing in works of decoration'.

Nissen ZBI 5108a

Nathaniel Whittock (1791-1860) was a Victorian topographical engraver. He published 'bird's eye' views of cities such asYork (1856), Oxford (1834), Melbourne, Australia (1854), Hull (1855), and London (1845, 1849, 1859). Between 1824-1829 he was "Teacher of Drawing and Perspective, and Lithographist to the University of Oxford", and worked for the university's Ashmolean Museum and scientific community. Whittock was "a prolific writer of instruction books", on drawing and other subjects, such as The Decorative Painters’ and Glaziers’ Guide (1827) In addition to the work offered here he also published a companion volume, The art of drawing and colouring from nature: flowers, fruit, and shells (1829).

Whittock was a pioneer, being 'one of the first to publish lithograph illustrations systematically coloured by hand' (Abbey). He also published an early work concerning the use of photography in artPhotogenic drawing made easy. A manual of photography: a plain and

practical introduction to drawing and writing by the action of light, c.1840.

Condition

4to, cont. half calf, raised bands to spine, gt tooling to compartments, marbled boards and endpapers; joints starting to crack, but still firm, wear to corners, edges and spine; boards rubbed and scuffed. Occasional foxing, a few stains.