Aquatint Engraving : A Chapter in the History of Book Illustration

W. & G. Foyle, London, first edition, 1909. Cloth, top edge gilt, 8vo, 25 cm,. xv, 434 pp, 25 plates. Prideaux's work focusses almost exclusively on English books, with aquatint illustrations, published between 1775 and 1830. From a contemporary review of the first edition:" Miss Prideaux writes an excellent style, and I remember no book on any branch of engraving which explains so intelligently the connection of the art with all the social conditions of the period in which it arose. She has not merely looked at the illustrations, but has read the books in which they appeared. Her chapters on the rise of water-colour painting in England, on topographical draughtsmanship, on the water-colour painters as teachers and their drawing-books, on the eighteenth century fondness for English topography and the somewhat later passion for books on foreign travel, are all most interesting.. ". Contents: Introduction; I The Aquatint Process; II The Development of Colour Printing and the Invention of Aquatint.; III The Use of Aquatint in France and the Aquatint Work of Goya; IV The Rise of Water-Colour Painting and the Topographical Draughtsman; V Paul Sandby and His Aquatinta; VI Rudolph Ackermann and His Associates; VII Humphrey Repton and His Place in Garden Literature; VIII Water-Colour Painters as Teachers, and their Drawing-Books; IX Foreign Travel; X English Topography; XI Sport and Natural History; XII Caricature and Costume. Appendixes: A. Books Published Before 1830 with Aquatint Plates B. Biographical Notices of Engravers Whose Names Appear on the Plates C. Artists Whose Names Appear on the Plates . D. Publications by Ackermann with Aquatint Plates E. Books Illustrated by Rowlandson in which Aquatint was employed F. Alphabetical List of Aquatint Engravers, with the Books Illustrated by Them G. List of Authorities. Small booklabel on front free endpaper, slightly worn at head and tail of spine, some foxing, otherwise a Good bright copy.