BEAUTIFUL AMSTERDAM FIRST EDITION of "Temple of the Muses" (original title Tableaux du Temple des Muses) and text in Dutch, English, German and French. The 60 splendid copper engravings in FOLIO size H 480 x W 310 mm are signed by Bernard Picart or Picard (1673-1733) after the original illustrations by the Flemish Cornelis Bloemaert II (1603-1692) on the drawings created by the Dutch painter Abraham van Diepenbeeck or Diepenbeck (1596-1675).This is a 1733 superb edition of the 1655 original "Tableaux du Temple des Muses", the illustrations are the same and signed by Bernard Picart, each framed with a different elaborate border and each titled in 4 languages. The main text is in English with hints in Latin and Greek that refer to the original ancient fable or myth from which the illustration is taken. The result combines the high baroque period of the Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) school with the more gracious inventions of his own time. Magnificent first edition, currently for sale at US$ 6,500.00. Offered here at a fraction of that price. This FIRST EDITION in English was published the same year as the French edition. The Bernard Picart's illustrations represent esoteric teachings, emblems, mysteries, vices, virtues, ancient myths and fables taken from the epic poems of Homer (8th century BC), Hesiod (750 - 650 BC) and Ovid's Metamorphoses (43 BC - 18 AD), as well as telling ancient Greco-Roman myths such as those of Hercules, Pandora, Prometheus, Lycaon, Pygmalion, Heracles, Castor and Pollux, Sirens, Icarus, Narcissus, Medusa, Andromeda, Jason, Cassandra, Orpheus, Hell etc... The book is fully illustrated and is a great example of 17-18th century baroque illustrative art. The text is by Antoine de La Barre de Beaumarchais, based on Le Temple des Muses (1655) by Michel de Marolles (1600-1681). Artists and Engravers: The magnificent illustrations were created in 1655 by the Flemish painter Abraham van Diepenbeeck or Diepenbeck, he was a pupil of the famous Peter Paul Rubens. Diepenbeeck engraved and designed many prints which were published by prominent Antwerp printers such as van Meurs, the Plantin Press, Martinus van den Enden the Elder and collaborated on various projects under the direction of Rubens. In the 1630s van Diepenbeeck started to create monumental paintings. His work was influenced by Rubens and Anthony van Dyck. Cornelis Bloemaert II, was a Dutch painter and engraver, who after training the Dutch Republic worked most of his career in Rome. His workshop in Italy played an important role in spreading Italian art throughout Europe and attracted many young engravers from abroad. Bloemaert was born in Utrecht. He studied with his father, Abraham Bloemaert, his brothers Hendrick and Adriaan, and his father's pupil, Gerard van Honthorst. Though originally trained as a painter, he devoted himself primarily to printmaking, which he learned from Crispijn van de Passe. He went to Paris in 1630, where he made engravings from among others, Michel de Marolles's Temple des Muses, before going to Rome in 1633. Amongst his pupils were Michel Natalis and Gilles Rousselet. Some of his better known engravings are of Annibale Carracci's The Holy Family, Pietro da Cortona's Adoration of the Shepherds, and Rubens' Meleager. Bloemaert was a member of the Bentvueghels, an association of mainly Dutch and Flemish artists active in Rome. This first edition printed in Amsterdam replicates the same illustrations, and they have been recreated by Bernard Picart or Picard (1673-1733), was a French draughtsman, engraver, and book illustrator in Amsterdam, who showed an interest in cultural and religious habits. Beautiful work with an impressive series of detailed illustrations drawn with great skill. References: Brunet, III, 1443; Duportal, 261; Brunet V, 696; Cohen-de-Ricci 531; VD18 13445952; Vgl. Sander 1899; UCBA II, 1597; Paola Bassani Pacht and Sylvain Kerspern, Pierre Brébiette (1598-1642) Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Orleans 22 octobre 2001-20 janvier 2002; Abbé Louis Bossebœuf, Un Précurseur: Michel de Marolles, abbé de Villeloin, sa vie et son œuvre, Tours, Imprimerie Tourangelle, 1911 ou 1912 (et Genève, Slatkine Reprint, 1971); Depaulis, Thierry (2002). "Quand l'abbé de Marolles jouait au tarot" in Le Vieux Papier, no. 365, July 2002, pp. 313–316; Les marques de collections de dessins & d'estampes / par Frits Lugt, n° 1855; Les ollectionneursau Cabinet des estampes / L. Beaumont-Maillet, 1993 BN Cat. gén. : Marolles (Michel de), abbé de Villeloin. Title: The Temple of the Muses or the principal histories of fabulous antiquity, represented in sixty sculptures; designed and ingraved by Bernard Picart Le Romain, and other celebrated masters, with explications and remarks, which discover the true meaning of the fables, and their foundation in history. Printed in Amsterdam by Zacharias Chatelain, MDCCXXXIII (1733). Text primarily in English with some portions in Dutch, German, French, Latin and Greek. Description: in Folio size H 480 x W 310 mm or 18.9 by 12.2 inches. Half title + illustrated title + title, plus XXIV pages for preface and contents, plus 153 pages for text + 60 sheets for illustrations, + 3 pages for index and advertisement. A total of 61 full-page illustrations. Text and illustrations printed well, pages are with original and wide margins, general browning on the text pages. The illustrations on thick and fine paper are in excellent condition, intact, few slight defects, well engraved and contrasted. Modern hardback binding in perfect condition with no defects and with title on the spine. The engraving work, of great finesse, shows great detail in the illustrations and excellent contrast and sharpness. BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATED EDITION. Author: Michel de Marolles (1600-1681), known as the abbé de Marolles, was a French churchman and translator, known for his collection of old master prints. He became a monk in 1610 and later was Abbot of Villeloin (1626–1674). He was the author of many translations of Latin poets and was part of many salons, notably that of Madeleine de Scudéry. He is best known for having collected 123,000 prints (bought from him in 1667 by Colbert for Louis XIV for 28,000 livres) - this acquisition is considered the foundation of the cabinet of prints in the royal library, though it was only constituted as a department in 1720. Abbé de Marolles is the author of the earliest printed rules for the game of Tarot. They were new rules for the game created by Princess Marie-Louise of Gonzague-Nevers, later Queen of Poland, and were published in Nevers in 1637. Shipping: via UPS, protected, INSURED and fully tracked package. Estimated time for Europe 3-5 working days. Shipping within one working day. You can combine shipping if you purchases several items from us, saving money and time.