HILL, John (1770-1850, engraver); François Louis Thomas FRANCIA (1772-1839, author, attributed)

A Series of Progressive Lessons, Intended to Elucidate the Art of Flower Painting in Water Colours, 4th edition

Philadelphia: Desilver, Thomas & Co., 1836. 4to. (10 3/8 x 8 1/8 inches). 12 aquatint plates (10 hand-coloured), with 32 pp. of accompanying text.

Contemporary red half morocco over marbled boards, with printed title label to upper board, neatly rebacked

Fourth edition of a rare American colour plate book and an important art instruction book containing engravings by John Hill.

The work was published in four editions (1818, 1820, 1835 and 1836), with all editions now rare. The beautiful plates were drawn, aquatinted and coloured by the English-born Philadelphia artist John Hill. Born in London in 1770, Hill apprenticed as an engraver in his youth and developed a keen interest in the aquatinting process. In 1798, he began working independently in London, primarily producing aquatints for book illustrations. Facing financial pressures to support his family, Hill immigrated to Philadelphia in 1816, quickly becoming a prominent figure in aquatint artistry in the United States. In Philadelphia, Hill, along with his family, engaged in engraving and hand-coloring prints. His son, John William Hill, also became a skilled painter and engraver. Hill's significant contribution to aquatint in the U.S. was marked by his major commission, "Picturesque Views of American Scenery" (1820-1821), which is regarded as the first major plate book published in the country. Following this success, he collaborated on the "Hudson River Portfolio" (1821-1825), featuring views of New York State. The author of the text is believed to have been the French watercolour painter Francois Louis Thomas Francia. "This book of lessons on flower painting started a movement marked by the publication of other excellent books of instruction in the same art, and by the painting of an incalculable number of flower pieces by an army of [female] amateur artists" (Drepperd). The book itself is arranged as a practical course in botanical watercolour, moving from elementary exercises in tint, shade, and leaf form to more complete floral subjects. Its twelve aquatint plates begin with a colour chart and studies of leaves in outline, under-painting, and finished form, then proceed to individual flower and fruit studies. The plates serve both as models for copying and as demonstrations of process, showing the student how form, colour, and finish could be built up in successive stages.

Koke 59; Drepperd, "American Drawing Books" in New York Public Library Bulletin, November 1945, p. 798; Bennett p. 55; Schimmelman 510; Shaw & Shoemaker 45685; Grace and Wallace, p. 315.

Item #42994

Price: $3,250.00