[Spanish drawings of the Bible; Sotto, Carlos del], Spanish illustrated explanation of the Bible with 183 original drawings, S.a. [c.1700]. S.l. [Spain].

[Spanish drawings of the Bible; Sotto, Carlos del]

Spanish illustrated explanation of the Bible with 183 original drawings, S.a. [c.1700]. S.l. [Spain].

Unrecorded 18th century manuscript illustrated Bible in Spanish containing 268 full-page drawings

Unknown and unrecorded eighteenth-century Spanish illustrated Bible, comprising 268 original full-page drawings with their explanatory text. It is an example of the Figures de la Bible genre which explained the Bible through iconography. Spanish examples of this genre are extraordinarily rare.

$ 14,000.00

Enquire

4to oblong, (190 x 290 mm). 1 [blank], title page, 183 pp., 183 reddish or brown pencil drawings on recto (sepia style), 1 [blank], 85 pp. and 85 brown pencil drawings. Later vellum gilt with yap edges, red lettering piece to flat spine, gilt fillets on boards. Offset to some pages facing drawings, light scattered foxing spots, overall excellent.

This particular example contains 268 drawings, all facing text in Spanish in a beautiful accomplished calligraphy. The drawings are naïve, though charming. The authorship of this example is attributed in the mid-20th century bookseller’s ticket to a Carlos del Sotto, presumably a Spanish artist, of whom we have been unable to find any record. In any case, a work of this magnitude constitutes a sizeable show of a hitherto unknown 18th century Spanish artist.

The Figures de la Bible genre, which originated in the early 16th century and evolved from the tradition of medieval exempla, was a popular medium in the 18th century to impart moral principles as well as knowledge of the bible. Biblical scenes, such as Joseph forgiving his brothers (Genesis), Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh (Exodus) and the punishment of Abimelech (Judges), are here, therefore, illustrated and accompanied by an original text explaining the scene, its background and the lessons to be learnt from it.

The drawings in this work are in the classical tradition originally established for the genre by the Renaissance painter Raphael and continued into the 18th century in such works as Bernard Picart’s Figures de la Bible (Amsterdam, 1720) suggesting that the artist was familiar with these. The drawings, however, are noticeably different and the production of such a volume in Spain is extremely unusual. As Max Engammare has noted, ‘la production de Figures de la Bible est souvent circonscrite à une sphère franco-flandro-germanique’ (‘the production of Figures of the Bible is often limited to the Franco-Flandro-Germanic sphere’, M. Engammare, ‘Les Figures de la Bible: Le destin oublié d’un genre littéraire en image (XVIe–XVIIe)’, Mélanges de l’école française de Rome, 1994, p. 555) and the restrictions imposed by the Inquisition in Spain on biblical interpretation meant that works of this nature were rarely completed without official authorisation.

Provenance: early or mid-20th century bookseller’s ticket attributing the drawings to Carlos del Sotto (‘The drawings are supposed to be by Carlos del Sotto, but they are unsigned, and belong to the second half of the XVIIIth century. they are very interesting and well drawn, and quaint. A stamped document is fixed to the MS., which reads ‘Received of J. Moorcroft Esq. the sum of fifteen pounds for M.S. Bible. I L W. Witcombe forfeit all claim which the bible will realize which I held as my own personal property, and I hold the said J. Moorcrott Esq. [h]armless from all claim which might arise hereaft[er]. (Signed and dated 7th February, 1865)”. The seller’s ticket described the book as being held in the contemporary calf.

Artworks

Cookie preferences

Join our mailing list

Artworks

[Spanish drawings of the Bible; Sotto, Carlos del]

Further images