Description

Hardcover, large quarto size volume bound in genuine top-grain gray cowhide with raised spine stamped in gold and cover stampings and design by Daniel B. Bianchi and Selma Ordewer in 22kt gold. 186 pages. All edges gilt. Additional refinements include bound in silk ribbon marker and specially commissioned marbled end-papers by Richard J. Wolfe. Illustrated with numerous engravings throughout. Special limited facsimile edition published for The Classics of Medicine Library, 1984, prepared from the first editions of 1806 courtesy of the Yale Medical Library and the Reynolds Historical Library. A quality limited edition facsimile of these early 19th-century illustrated works. Bell was a Scottish surgeon and anatomist, best known for his work in neurology. “His first publication was entitled: Essays on the anatomy of expression in painting, London, 1806, 4to, with illustrations. In this work he points the importance of a knowledge of anatomy to the artist and displays the error into which artists may be betrayed by an exclusive attention to the antique. He treats of the skull and form of the head, of the muscles of the face in man and in animals, depicts the several passions by a comparison of these, marks what is peculiar to man, embodies the idea of a living principle in the expression of emotion, and finally treats of the economy of the living body as it relates to expression and character in painting.” A clean, fresh unmarked and unread and like new copy, with original owner’s publisher supplied personalized book-plate affixed to second blank end-paper indicating that this id copy 921. But for book-plate as new.