I believe this is a Grand Tour sketchbook of sorts, probably 1880s or so, carried along on travels through Europe. The first few pages are very carefully rendered watercolors of floral arrangements (they look almost like prints, but close inspection shows they are indeed watercolors). Much more interesting to me though are the much more naive sketches on subsequent pages, presumably rendered on site--of what look to be tombs/memorials and ruins (partial columns and the like), lined up two or three per page like curious little sculptures or vignettes. I find them highly empathetic and completely charming and think they have an almost sci-fi sort of sense to them, as if specimens discovered on anther planet, perhaps components of some mysterious experiment. Really great! And lots of them. Then some more elaborate views of rocks and ruins in landscape context, followed finally by a couple of pages with skillfully done portraits, two sketches of a woman in traditional dress, and a watercolor of two workers harvesting grain.
8 3/8 x 5 1/2". 25 pages of watercolor and graphite drawings, one side only. 3 floral watercolors at front of notebook, then graphite drawings, then one figural watercolor last. Photos show a few favorites first then document in order. Some blank pages interspersed. All in good condition, some toning spots and toning around the edges as documented. Paper not fragile, and no notable tears. Spine is very worn but binding holding okay.
You might also like
