Addressed to His Grace the Duke of Marlborough. Thoughts on the Cameos and Intaglios of Antiquity, Suggested by a Sight and Survey of the Blenheim Collection, by a Lover of the Fine Arts [V. Thomas.]. (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1847. Excerpt: ... PART II. ON THE UNPUBLISHED WORK, ENTITLED, Gemmarum antiquarum Delectus ex prcestantioribus desumptus, quce in Dactyliothecis Duels Marl buriensis conservantur. 2 torn, folio. Choix de Pierres antiques gravees du Cabinet du Due de Marlborough. This Delectus, of which no more than one hundred copies were struck off for presents to friends, contains one hundred copper-plate engravings (fifty in each Vol.) of some of the best and most beautiful Gems of the Blenheim Collection ex pr&stantioribus qua? in Dactyliothecis Ducis Marlburiensis conservantur The Latin descriptions of the fifty Gems of the First Volume were written by that elegant scholar and ardent explorer of antiquity, Jacob Bryant, Esq.; the Latin descriptions of the fifty Gems of the Second Volume were from the classical pen of the Rev. William Cole, D.D. Prebendary of Westminster, originally Scholar and Fellow of King's Coll. Camb., who in 1775 (when Sir W. Browne's Prize Medals were first offered) gained one for his Greek Ode, and again in 1776 for a Greek Epigram; his Oratio de Ridiculo gained another Prize. With respect to the French translation, that too was the work of two hands; the translator of the First Volume was Mr. Maty, once a Clergyman of the Church of England, who became an Assistant Librarian of the British Museum. He received 100 and a Copy of the Work for his easy labours. The Second Volume was translated by the Rev. Lewis Dutens, author of the Itineraire and other works, and well qualified for his employment by an easy style of writing, much general information, and especially by his knowledge as an antiquary. It made its appearance in 1783, if indeed this can be said of a Work which was studiously withheld from the sight and perusal of the public at large, and whose ...