ALENI, Giulio (1582-1649). Tianzhu jiansheng chuxiang jingjie. [A History of the Lord of Heaven Who Became Incarnate in the Flesh] . Fukien: The Chin-Chiang Church, 1637.
ALENI, Giulio (1582-1649). Tianzhu jiansheng chuxiang jingjie. [A History of the Lord of Heaven Who Became Incarnate in the Flesh] . Fukien: The Chin-Chiang Church, 1637. 272 x 178 mm. 8 leaves preliminary text, 57 copperplate engravings mounted, one double-page, each with Chinese text above and below, with 18th-century manuscript titling in English and some with manuscript notes on slips in English laid in facing the plates. (Some occasional pale spotting.) 18th-century English night blue turkey, sides gilt panelled, spine gilt decorated, red morocco letting piece, edges gilt (some light rubbing). Provenance : B. Way (engraved bookplate on flyleaf at end). A very rare series of engravings depicting the life of Christ, adapted by the Jesuit Missionary Giulio Aleni from a much larger set of engravings by the Flemish artist Wierix (and others) for Hieronymus Natalis's Evangelicae historiae imagines which was first published in Antwerp, 1593 and republished under the title Adnotationes et meditations in evangelia . The Biblical scenes are depicted with Chinese figurants and are printed on thin Chinese rice paper and mounted on English laid paper of the 18th century. Only an imperfect copy appears in American Book Prices Current in the last 30 years: Sotheby's London, 27 June 1996, lot 229. "The Jesuit Giulio Aleni brought western iconography to China, where it was used as the Chinese themselves had used illustrations, especially in Buddho-Taoist teaching. Here we have an intricate block-printed book of illustrations used as an aid to proselytization. Numbers in the text portion at the bottom of pages refer to figures and arrangements in the scenes of Christ's life" (Library of Congress Vatican Exhibit). Pfister I, p.132, no. 2.
ALENI, Giulio (1582-1649). Tianzhu jiansheng chuxiang jingjie. [A History of the Lord of Heaven Who Became Incarnate in the Flesh] . Fukien: The Chin-Chiang Church, 1637.
ALENI, Giulio (1582-1649). Tianzhu jiansheng chuxiang jingjie. [A History of the Lord of Heaven Who Became Incarnate in the Flesh] . Fukien: The Chin-Chiang Church, 1637. 272 x 178 mm. 8 leaves preliminary text, 57 copperplate engravings mounted, one double-page, each with Chinese text above and below, with 18th-century manuscript titling in English and some with manuscript notes on slips in English laid in facing the plates. (Some occasional pale spotting.) 18th-century English night blue turkey, sides gilt panelled, spine gilt decorated, red morocco letting piece, edges gilt (some light rubbing). Provenance : B. Way (engraved bookplate on flyleaf at end). A very rare series of engravings depicting the life of Christ, adapted by the Jesuit Missionary Giulio Aleni from a much larger set of engravings by the Flemish artist Wierix (and others) for Hieronymus Natalis's Evangelicae historiae imagines which was first published in Antwerp, 1593 and republished under the title Adnotationes et meditations in evangelia . The Biblical scenes are depicted with Chinese figurants and are printed on thin Chinese rice paper and mounted on English laid paper of the 18th century. Only an imperfect copy appears in American Book Prices Current in the last 30 years: Sotheby's London, 27 June 1996, lot 229. "The Jesuit Giulio Aleni brought western iconography to China, where it was used as the Chinese themselves had used illustrations, especially in Buddho-Taoist teaching. Here we have an intricate block-printed book of illustrations used as an aid to proselytization. Numbers in the text portion at the bottom of pages refer to figures and arrangements in the scenes of Christ's life" (Library of Congress Vatican Exhibit). Pfister I, p.132, no. 2.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
