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Il Decamerone
Author: Giovanni Boccaccio (Italian, 1313–1375)
Illustrated by: Hubert François Gravelot (French, 1699–1773)
Illustrated by: Charles Eisen (French, 1720–1778)
Illustrated by: François Boucher (French, 1703–1770)
Illustrated by: Charles-Nicolas Cochin le fils (French, 1715–1790)
Engraved by: Jacques Aliamet (French, 1726–1788)
Engraved by: Jean Charles Baquoy (French, 1721–1777)
Engraved by: Jean Jacques Flipart (French, 1719–1782)
Engraved by: Louis Legrand (French, 1723–1807)
Engraved by: Noël Le Mire (French, 1724–1801)
Engraved by: Louis Simon Lempereur (French, 1725–1796)
Engraved by: Catherine Elisabeth (Cousinet) Lempereur (French, born in 1726)
Engraved by: Jean-Jacques André Le Veau (French, 1729–1786)
Engraved by: Pierre Etienne Moitte (French, 1722–1780)
Engraved by: Jean Ouvrier (French, 1725–1784)
Engraved by: Jean Jacques Pasquier (French, died in 1785)
Engraved by: Pierre (Pitre) Martenasie (Flemish, worked in France, died in 1770?)
Engraved by: Augustin de Saint-Aubin (French, 1736–1807)
Engraved by: Dominique Sornique (French, 1708 – 1756)
Engraved by: Jacques Nicolas Tardieu (French, 1716–1791)
Publisher: Prault (French, 18th century)
Illustrated by: Hubert François Gravelot (French, 1699–1773)
Illustrated by: Charles Eisen (French, 1720–1778)
Illustrated by: François Boucher (French, 1703–1770)
Illustrated by: Charles-Nicolas Cochin le fils (French, 1715–1790)
Engraved by: Jacques Aliamet (French, 1726–1788)
Engraved by: Jean Charles Baquoy (French, 1721–1777)
Engraved by: Jean Jacques Flipart (French, 1719–1782)
Engraved by: Louis Legrand (French, 1723–1807)
Engraved by: Noël Le Mire (French, 1724–1801)
Engraved by: Louis Simon Lempereur (French, 1725–1796)
Engraved by: Catherine Elisabeth (Cousinet) Lempereur (French, born in 1726)
Engraved by: Jean-Jacques André Le Veau (French, 1729–1786)
Engraved by: Pierre Etienne Moitte (French, 1722–1780)
Engraved by: Jean Ouvrier (French, 1725–1784)
Engraved by: Jean Jacques Pasquier (French, died in 1785)
Engraved by: Pierre (Pitre) Martenasie (Flemish, worked in France, died in 1770?)
Engraved by: Augustin de Saint-Aubin (French, 1736–1807)
Engraved by: Dominique Sornique (French, 1708 – 1756)
Engraved by: Jacques Nicolas Tardieu (French, 1716–1791)
Publisher: Prault (French, 18th century)
1757
Place of Publication: Paris, France
Medium/Technique
Illustrated book with 213 etching and engravings
Dimensions
Overall (each vol., depth variable): 20.5 x 13.3 x 3.8 cm (8 1/16 x 5 1/4 x 1 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
William A. Sargent Collection—Bequest of William A. Sargent
Accession Number37.1742a-e
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsIllustrated books
London [i.e., Paris, Prault]: 1757
Catalogue Raisonné
Cohen-de Ricci 158-59; Ray, French Illustrated Book, 15
Description(London [i.e., Paris, Prault]: 1757) Octavo, five vols.; [v. 1] 152 leaves, plus plates; [v. 2] 136 ll., plus pls.; [v. 3] 98 ll., plus pls.; [v. 4] 131 ll., plus pls.; [v. 5] 124 ll., plus pls.; contemporary gilt-stamped mottled brown calf.
Author portrait; engraved titles; illustrations to Boccaccio's tales; decorative frontispieces and vignettes
First edition with these illustrations; a French translation (Cohen-de Ricci 160) appeared slightly later. Gravelot designed 89 of the 111 plates, and all 97 of the tailpieces, his largest single commission. Some 115 of his preliminary sketches by this series are in the Rosenwald Collection, Library of Congress; 131 of the final engraver's models are in the Widener Collection at the National Gallery of Art; and two other finished drawings are in the Ray Collection, Pierpont Morgan Library. Ten plates were designed by Eisen, and Cochin and Boucher had six each. As some plates in the later volumes are dated as late as 1761, the actual issuing of the volumes apparently extended to that date.
This copy does not contain the extra set of Gravelot's "free" [i.e., erotic] plates. Another copy in MFA, Sargent Collection (37.1371a-e).
Author portrait; engraved titles; illustrations to Boccaccio's tales; decorative frontispieces and vignettes
First edition with these illustrations; a French translation (Cohen-de Ricci 160) appeared slightly later. Gravelot designed 89 of the 111 plates, and all 97 of the tailpieces, his largest single commission. Some 115 of his preliminary sketches by this series are in the Rosenwald Collection, Library of Congress; 131 of the final engraver's models are in the Widener Collection at the National Gallery of Art; and two other finished drawings are in the Ray Collection, Pierpont Morgan Library. Ten plates were designed by Eisen, and Cochin and Boucher had six each. As some plates in the later volumes are dated as late as 1761, the actual issuing of the volumes apparently extended to that date.
This copy does not contain the extra set of Gravelot's "free" [i.e., erotic] plates. Another copy in MFA, Sargent Collection (37.1371a-e).
ProvenanceAcquired in 1922 by William A. Sargent, Boston (1858-1936), by whom bequeathed to MFA, November 17, 1937.