Edmond & Jules de Goncourt - L'Art du dix-huitième Siècle [Watteau, Chardin, Boucher, Fragonard...] - 1859-1875

Rare original edition consisting of 10 issues bound together by Marmin in a beautiful in-quarto binding.
Printed in 200 copies, these brochures constitute the separate print run of articles by the Goncourt brothers published from 1856 to 1870 in the magazines L’Artiste and La Gazette des beaux-arts.
Each brochure was printed in 200 copies on laid paper by the Lyon-based printer Louis Perrin, and was illustrated with 2 to 4 original etchings after the studied artists, all engraved by Jules de Goncourt except for two, which were the work of his brother, namely Augustin de Saint-Aubin sitting on a stool (Saint-Aubin) and Justice and Divine Vengeance pursuing Crime (Prud’hon).
Opens with a title dated 1875 at Dentu, frontispiece in etching, preface, table, and additions.
In this collection, we have inserted numerous original documents and engravings, including a large original photograph of Edmond.
Luxury binding signed MARMIN, executed in green morocco, with triple gilt fillet on the covers, spine with raised bands, beautiful decoration with small gold tools, all edges gilded.

Light sunning on the spine, discreet marks on the covers, light signs of use on the edges and corners; otherwise, the binding is in very good condition, very decorative.
Fresh and clean interior, transfers in the background of a few planks, without gravity.

A great classic by the Goncourt brothers, which saw a second edition in 2 volumes in octavo (1873-1874) and a 'luxury' edition, revised and expanded, in 14 fascicles in quarto, illustrated with 70 plates (Dujardin & Quantin), in 2 volumes from 1880 to 1882.

Provenance: heraldic bookplate of "Jean Cadilhac".

The Goncourts, who possessed the passion of the 18th century, inherited, in part, the free spirit, the studied grace, the subtle refinement, and sometimes a bit dry, the Goncourts contributed greatly to its study and to making it or restoring it to fashion.

AUTHOR: Goncourt, Edmond Jules de
The Art of the Eighteenth Century
- Les Saint-Aubin. Paris: E. Dentu, 1859.
- Watteau. Same, 1860.
- Boucher. Ibid., 1862.
- Chardin. Ibid., 1864.
- Frangonard. Same, 1865.
- Debucourt. Same, 1866.
La Tour. Same, 1867.
- The vignette artists. Gravelot - Cochin - Eisen - Moreau. Same, 1868-1870.

Edition: Paris: E. Dentu, 1859-1875. — 10 issues bound into 10 volumes

Subject: Goncourt The Art of the Eighteenth Century Watteau RARE EO 1859 1/200 Signed binding