A Treatise on Painting – Leonardo Da Vinci – 1802 | 23 Engravings

A Treatise on Painting by Leonardo da Vinci, originally written under the 1651 title Trattato della Pittura, is a collection of notes and writings on painting and drawing. The main focus of this treatise was to convey that painting was a science and not just an artform. (Greenberg, 259). Da Vinci discusses the state of human emotion in art and incorporates the depictions of those emotions in his art.

This 1802 English edition was translated and edited by John Francis Rigaud who included a biographical sketch of da Vinci by John Sidney Hawkins. It is more notable, however, for the 23 sketch, copper-plate engravings depicting da Vinci’s art.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Treatise on Painting
• Author(s): Leonardo Da Vinci
• Illustrator(s): Leonardo Da Vinci
• Contributor(s): John Francis Rigaud (Translator); John Sidney Hawkins (Biographer)
• Publisher: London: printed for J. Taylor
• Edition: 1802.
• Format: (4to), single volume
• Binding: Custom marbled boards with slipcase (not original)
• Size:  10 in x 6 in (25.5 cm x 15.2 cm)
• Collation: [xcv], 236 pp
• Illustrations: 23 copper plates
• Contents Include:
  • A Treatise on Painting
  • Life of Leonardo da Vinci by John Sidney Hawkins
• Provenance: unknown slipcase and binding maker
• Reference(s): Greenberg 259

Condition:

Later custom marbled binding with matching slipcase. Binding firm and secure. Text block clean with minimal age toning. Plates sharp and well preserved.

Why Collect This?

• Early English edition of da Vinci’s writings on painting
• Illustrated with 23 engraved copper plates
• Includes John Sidney Hawkins’ biography of Leonardo
• Custom slipcase and binding not found on other examples of this text

Item Number: # 29257