Die Illuminierten Handschriften und Inkunabeln der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek, Frazösische Schule, Band I und Band II. [4 VOLUMES IN 2 SLIPCASES ALTOGETHER]

Vien: Verlag der Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Otto Pächt, Publisher, 1974 First Editions, 1974 and 1977. [4 VOLUMES IN 2 SLIPCASES ALTOGETHER] In German. Französische Schule I: Taffeln, mit 375 Abbildung und 8 Farbtafeln, (unpaginated); Textband mit 110 Abbildungen, (198 pp. plus illustrations.) Französische Schule II: Taffeln mit 424 Abbildungen und 9 Farbtafeln, (unpaginated); Textband mit 110 Abbildunge. (240 pp. Plus illustrations.) Hard cover, 4to., (measuring 8 1/2 x 12 1/8 inches) in red publisher's cloth with titles in gold to front board and spine. The two red cloth-covered slipcases each have a color reproduction to the front. Condition: books, Near Fine, very clean, tight and bright, glossy paper, spines slightly sunned. Slipcases Very Good, with slight soiling and sunning, otherwise very sound and attractive. ***Illuminated Manuscripts and Incunabula of the French School at the Austrian National Library of Vienna, Vols. I and II, published by the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Philosophical-Historic Classes, Vo. 118, Herbert Hunger, series editor, Otto Pächt Publisher, Vienna, 1974, 1977. Consists of "French School I" : Plate book, with 375 photographically reproduced examples in high-quality black and white, and a further 8 in full color, unpaginated. The second volume in that slipcase is the "Text", consisting of catalog descriptions of the plates in the other volume: it discusses the authors, painters, provenance, stylistic commentary including comparison study photos for reference, and a bibliography. The "French School II" set consists of the Plate book with 424 photographic reproductions in black and white, and 9 in full color; and the Text catalog, with similar description as above. A useful resource for the study of the medieval book or manuscript. In his Preface, Pächt stresses the work on these documents, codices and incunabula ceased with the Second World War, that the collections had since been expanded, and that work was required to modernize both the catalog listings and re-photograph the holdings. **Austrian author/editor Otto Pächt (1902-1988) wrote much about the medieval and renaissance art history of Europe while in exile from the Nazis, both in London at the Courtauld Institute, and later at Oxford. After the War he was able to return to Austria as Director of the Dept. of Manuscripts at the National Library of Vienna, where this work originated. He taught in the United States in later years. I OCLC Nr. 912303273. II OCLC Nr. 230131270.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine.