Giorgio Bonelli Hortus Romanus Prints 1772

This illustrious work was one of the very few Italian contributions to the great botanical works of the 18th century. Giorgio Bonelli’s Hortus Romanus was published from 1772-1793. It is exceedingly rare, as less than 300 copies were believed to have been published, and of these, only a very few were hand coloured. It is the first time we have been able to secure a good selection of original hand coloured prints from this work.  The work is luxurious, on a sumptuous, thick, handmade chain lined paper with elaborate water marks on some.  Each sheet measures approximately 15 by 21 1/2 inches and is a creamy white with no foxing or other defects.  The plate area itself is 9 by 14 inches, with the wide margins not fully shown. The blue borders are stunning, and the prints are hand coloured in the bold and exuberant manner of the 18th century.  It is a rare opportunity to add a few of these exceedingly scarce and dashing prints to the collection at an affordable price.