Beschreibung:

Rugendas (Johann Moritz). Voyage pittoresque dans le Brésil, Paris: Engelmann, 1835, 70 lithograph plates only (of 100), lacking title and preliminary leaves, some leaves detached, closed tears to lower outer corners of 2 leaves of text, dampstaining and mottling throughout (worsening towards rear of volume), spotting, browning and some dust-soiling, armorial bookplate of William Harrison to upper pastedown, contemporary half calf, lacking spine and boards worn with loss of leather to corners of lower board, folio (516 x 347 mm) (Qty: 1) Borba de Moraes, II, 754; Brunet, IV, 1455; Sabin, 73935. Coming from a large family of artists, the artist took part in Baron Langsdorff's expedition to Brazil in 1822. Russian of German origin, Langsdorff was then Russian Consul General in Rio de Janeiro and decided to lead an expedition scientific exploration in the Amazon rainforest by river, accompanied by botanists, entomologists, naturalists, but also artists including Rugendas. At only 19 years old, the young painter explored with them the regions of Sao Paolo and Minas Gerais before withdrawing from the expedition to study the flora and fauna alone, but also the populations encountered in Mato Grosso and Pernambuco. At the request of King Maximilian I of Bavaria, he returned to Europe in 1825, where his work was admired by Alexander von Humboldt who encouraged him to work on the Picturesque Voyage in Brazil. The book was published in French and German in Paris and included 100 lithographs which reproduced works by Rugendas carried out on site. The book notably included scenes showing the realities of slavery in Brazil, a subject which was little discussed at the time. Sold as a collection of plates, not subject to return.