Descriptio publicae gratulationis
Two superb festive illustrated books preserved in their beautiful old pigskin armorial binding.
Set of 2 works in 1 folio volume, pigskin stamped in blind, boards decorated with 5 blind-tooled frame rolls, one of which is composed of portrait medallions; on the upper board, rectangular compartments for the gilt initials I.W.E.A.P. and the date 1628, surrounding a central compartment with gilt coat of arms and corner fleurons; central compartment of the lower board decorated with a gilt medallion and corner fleurons, raised bands to spine, marbled edges. German binding dated 1628.
390 X 253 mm.
Two magnificent illustrated festival books
preserved in their beautiful old stamped pigskin armorial bindings.
Boch, Jean. Descriptio publicae gratulationis, spectaculorum et ludorum, in adventu sereniss. Principis ernesti archiducis austriae…
Antwerp, Plantin, 1595.
Folio, 174 pp., (1) leaf with printer’s mark and 2 engraved titles.
Followed by:
Historica narratio profectionis et inaugurationis serenissimorum belgii principum alberti et isabellae, austria archiducum.
Antwerp, Plantin, 1602.
Folio, 500 pp., (5) leaves, (1) blank leaf and 4 engraved titles.
I/ First and only edition of one of the finest baroque festival books.
Ruggieri, 1064; Landwehr, 50; Vinet, 620; de Croy, 2300; Funck, 280-281; Berlin, 2944.
It recounts the triumphant entry into Antwerp on January 30, 1594 of Archduke Ernest of Austria, appointed by Philip II as Governor of the Netherlands.
The architectural compositions created for this work were engraved by Pieter Van der Borcht after drawings by Cornelis II Floris, Joos de Momper, and Maartin de Vos.
The 35 plates depict the various triumphal arches, processions, illuminations, games and theatrical events held for the occasion.
According to Funck (280-281), “The most remarkable plates show the procession entering the city with a view of Antwerp, the illumination of the Grand Place, and a tournament.”
This festival book is noted for its importance and rarity by bibliographers, notably by A. J. J. Delen in his History of Engraving in the Old Netherlands (II, pp.95-96): “The year 1595 saw the appearance of Van der Borcht’s most important work... It is generally more monumental than that of Grapheus Coecke, not only because of its grand folio format but also because of its illustration… Van der Borcht wished to dedicate all the power of his talent to this great work… The beautiful frontispiece by Van der Borcht and the overall design of the book by Bochius undoubtedly herald the opulent style that Rubens and his collaborators would create several years later in the Pompa Introitus of 1641.
II/ The second work stands as one of the remarkable publications of the Plantin press.
This festival book, published in only 775 copies, celebrates the entry of Albert and Isabella into the Netherlands.
Ruggieri, 1065; Landwehr, 62; Vinet, 621; de Croy, 2301; Berlin, 2345.
The illustrations consist of 28 large plates, including 15 double-page plates.
They evoke all the events and productions associated with this royal entry:
Salvos and equestrian parade, extra-mural procession, entry of the sovereigns under a canopy, triumphal arches including that of Hercules, spectacular illuminations, theatrical performances…
