Conversations of James Northcote, Esq., R.A.

London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1830. First edition. Cloth. Good. 8" by 5" . T Wright; A. Wivell. The first edition of William Hazlitt's popular work describing his conversations with the British painter, James Northcote. The first edition. In a full cloth binding. With a portrait frontispiece, engraved by T Wright, after a drawing by A. Wivell. William Hazlitt's popular work, in which he details his conversations with the British painter, James Northcote, during Northcote's final years. Hazlitt was an English essayist, literary critic, painter and philosopher, widely regarded as one of the greatest critics in the history of the English language. He also had a deep interest in the lives of painters in their old age, and thus began to spend time with James Northcote, making notes from their conversations about life. With the previous owner's ink inscription, dated 1882, to the half title page. In a full cloth binding. Externally, smart with some shelf wear to the extremities. Cracks to the joints. Bumping to the spine, with a small amount of loss to the upper spine. Spine is darkened with wear to the spine label. Light marks to the boards. Hinges starting but still firm. Light spotting to the paste-downs and free endpapers. Handling marks to the paste-downs and free endpapers. Internally, binding strained but still firm. Pages age-toned to the edges but generally bright and clean. Spotting towards the front and rear of the book, with the odd spot and handling mark throughout. The frontispiece tissue guard is loose but present. Good