Voyage à Athènes et à Constantinople,

£75,000 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books · No longer available

the finest colour plate book on Greece Turkey First edition of the finest colour plate book ever produced on Greece and Turkey. Born in Versailles in 1789, little is known about Dupré's family or childhood. However, he had a powerful patron in Count Clément de Ris, thanks to whom he was able to study at the school of the renowned painter Jacques-Louis David, an apprenticeship that had a decisive impact on his personality as well as his art. In 1811, Cardinal Joseph Fesch, Bishop of Lyon, connoisseur and statesman, sent Dupré to Kassel, where he was named court painter to the king of Westphalia, Jérôme Bonaparte, who also facilitated Dupré's journey to Rome to study, in 1813. In Italy, Dupré travelled, studied and drew antiquities, in particular vases, while developing his skills in landscape and portrait painting. He became acquainted with artists such as the sculptor David d'Angers, the painter J.A.D. Ingres, the composer J. Rossini and the architect C.R. Cockerell. He met three British art lovers, Hyett, Hay and Vivian, who suggested that he accompany them on their journey to Greece, in February 1819. This journey, which lasted until April 1820, completely met Dupré's expectations. He saw the ideal world of ancient Greece reveal itself before his eyes, the scope of his subjects became broader and his art was animated by a fresh élan. The party of four travelled to Corfu, Epirus, Thessaly, Central Greece, Attica, and the Saronic islands. Dupré himself continued on to Constan

• Binding: Hardcover

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