Emile Presuhn - Les Décorations Murales de Pompéi - 1878

A rare and highly attractive 19th-century art book devoted to the wall paintings of ancient Pompeii, produced as both a scholarly and decorative reference work.

This work was conceived “à l’usage des artistes, des écoles industrielles et des amis de l’antiquité” and presents a systematic study of Pompeian mural decoration, combining archaeological accuracy with richly coloured chromolithographic plates.

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Description

Large folio volume, complete with 24 finely executed chromolithographic plates, after the original drawings of Discanno, printed by V. Steeger. The plates reproduce frescoes, decorative panels, architectural perspectives, and ornamental motifs from Pompeii, capturing the vivid colour palette and stylistic sophistication of Roman wall painting.

Text by Émile Presuhn, translated from German by A. Giraud-Teulon, providing historical context, stylistic analysis, and technical discussion of ancient mural painting methods.

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Binding
• Contemporary half leather binding
• Spine and corners in deep burgundy leather
• Boards covered in striking marbled paper
• Gilt-lettered spine
• Solid and attractive binding, suitable for both collection and display

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Condition
• Complete with all plates
• Plates are bright and well-preserved, with strong colour
• Small glue stain on cover and minor damage to one soft plate cover
• Some light age-toning and occasional minor marks consistent with age
• Binding sound, with light wear commensurate with a 19th-century volume
• Overall very good condition for a book of this type and date

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Why this book matters
• Important Pompeii reference work from the golden age of chromolithography
• Sought after by art historians, classicists, architects, and interior designers
• Plates are often framed individually, making intact copies increasingly scarce
• A visually striking and historically significant volume

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Details
• Title: Les Décorations Murales de Pompéi
• Author: Émile Presuhn
• Publisher: T. O. Weigel, Leipzig
• Year: 1878
• Illustrations: 24 chromolithographic plates plus 51 pages
• Language: French
• Format: Large folio

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A rare opportunity to acquire a beautifully produced 19th-century work documenting the decorative art of ancient Pompeii — both an important scholarly reference and an exceptional visual object.