Unknown Artist  (18th Century)

Set of four antique hand colored Vue D'Optique engravings on paper

Created circa 1740-1760

Four architectural views of Venice and Rome including St. Anthony's and St. Carlin's Church

Prints: ~10"x~16", Margins: ~11.5"-12.5"x 17" 

Looks fair, in "as found" original untouched condition, stains, edge wear, creases, tears, minor age tone, unframed--please look at photos carefully.

Fantastic antique hand colored Vue compositions from mid 18th century Rome and Venice. A series of perspective views, or vues d optique, a special type of popular print published in Europe during the eighteenth century. These prints were a form of entertainment meant to be seen through devices called optical machines, optiques, zograscopes or peepshows. These views are some of the most distinctive and interesting images of the eighteenth century, and their striking use of lines of perspective and bright original color makes them as visually delightful as they are historically fascinating. 

The term vue d'optique or aperspective view is used for describing a very special genre of antique print. Originating in England it became widely produced in Europe during the second half of the 18th century. Augsburg, Paris, Bassano and several other places became centers for the production of these interesting, fascinating engravings. Aperspective views are usually views of cities around the world (but also of other subject matters, historical, Biblical etc.). These were shown in apeep boxes which in turn were usually set up by travelling owners of such viewing devices on markets throughout Europe. People could, for a certain amount of money, look into a peep box and view these perspective views through a magnifying lense which, at the same time, gave the viewer the impression of three dimensional perception. Well-to-do people bought such viewing machines for their families and began collecting the vue d'optique engravings showing them at home like a slide show would be shown. Perspective view prints were usually coloured quite boldly before they were sold. Black and white samples are the exception and rather rare. They also have more or less the same format (size), because they had to fit the peep boxes. The title of a view was not always, but quite frequently printed in several languages and often repeated above the view in inverted writing (which was corrected by the lens for the viewer). 

My price of $599 for the set is extremely reasonable and far below what one would be expected to pay for it in a gallery or at auction.

Please view my other paintings listed on ebay this week--we are adding a new bunch every Thursday. If not sold they will go into my ebay store at a more realistic and higher buy-it-now price, or removed. 

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