[GRUEL binding - copy from the library of Emperor Napoleon III] PRZEŹDZIECKI Aleksander, RASTAWIECKI Edward - Patterns of medieval art and from the epoch of revival after the end of the 17th century in old Poland. Serya pierwsza

BOOK PROBABLY COMES FROM THE LIBRARY OF FRENCH EMPEROR NAPOLEON III !

PRZEŹDZIECKI Aleksander, RASTAWIECKI Edward. Patterns of medieval and Renaissance art after the end of the 17th century in old Poland. Seriea pierwsza.

Warsaw-Paris 1853-1855. printing house Jozef Ungra, M. Fajans Chromolithographic Department. p. f. text [262], plates fig. 49 chromolithographs including frontispiece and list of subscribers, plate fig. 4 ( black and white lithographs ); 28x22cm

Luxury binding by Leon Gruel (signed with gold stamp at bottom of spine GRUEL). Hardcover full leather with gilt and ornamentation. Monogram of Emperor Napoleon III on the face. Spine divided into six fields, richly decorated with titling in French. Gilded bordure on decorative lining. Hand-sewn capitals. Gilded page edges. Tabin the form of a ribbon. All in cardboard case. - BEAUTIFUL BINDING!

More than good condition, very minor rubbing/soiling of the binding.

Monumental work published by Aleksander Przezdziecki and Edward Rastawiecki, presenting selected monuments of Polish art from the Middle Ages to the 18th century. It was one of the largest and costliest publishing undertakings on the Polish market in the 19th century. Text in Polish and French simultaneously.

Chromolithographs (among others by Henryk Walter) made according to drawings by W. Gerson, B. Podczaszyński, L. Łepkowski, K. Balicki, J. Wojnarowski, J.A. Drewaczyński, L. Dembowski, Wł. Łuszczkiewicz). The first series describes, among other things: Picture of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Chalice of St. Adalbert in Trzemeszno, Relic of Kujawski Cathedral, Tomb of Boleslaw Smialy in Ossyach, Portraits of St. Adalbert and St. Stanislaus. Stanislaw, the pearl chasuble in Czestochowa, King Alexander's enamel plate, Queen Bona's jewel box, Jewels after Sigismund I, Sigismund Augustus' book binding, the ebony altarpiece in the Czestochowa treasury, Hetman's rolls; Kmita's chasuble with St. Stanislaw's martyrdom, Hetman Zolkiewski's saber scabbard.

Lit.: A. Banach, Polish illustrated book 1800-1900, item 474

Leon Gruel (1841-1923) - son of prominent Parisian bookbinder Pierre Paul and continuator of family traditions, after his father's death he ran the workshop together with his half-brother Edmond Engelmann. The workshop specialized in luxury bindings, richly decorated with jewels. He received numerous awards for his products at specialized exhibitions. Leon Gruel was also the author of the textbook "Manuel historique et bibliographique de l'amateur de reliures," which is still highly regarded today.

Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, as Emperor Napoleon III (1808-1873) - President of France from 1848 to 1852, Emperor of the French (French: Empereur des Français) from 1852 to 1870. Son of Louis, King of the Netherlands (brother of Napoleon Bonaparte) and Hortense de Beauharnais - daughter of Josephine, from her first marriage to Viscount Beauharnais.