National Ball Costumes -

London: Pubd....by R. Ackermann, 1831. Twelve Superb Hand-Colored Lithographs of Regional Costume MANSION, aka André Léon Larue. National Ball Costumes. London: Pubd.... by R. Ackermann, 1831-1832. Folio. Twelve numbered hand-colored lithographed plates (measuring approximately 7 5/8 x 5 1/2 inches; 193 x 138 mm. on sheets measuring approximately 15 3/8 x 11 3/16 inches; 390 x 286 mm.) all heightened with gum arabic. The plates are printed by C. Hullmandel and are dated from Novr. 1st, 1831 to Feby. 1st, 1832. Loose, probably as issued, in an early stiff blue paper wrapper with the title label and shelf mark of the Hofbibliothek Donaueschingen. Housed in a half dark red morocco over marbled boards, front cover with rectangular maroon morocco bordered and lettered in gilt. Smooth spine with dark red morocco label lettered in gilt. A wonderful copy of this extremely rare series of plates. We have been unable to locate any other copies. The plates are captioned: "Russia, Kazan, Prov: Potlaki;" "Environs of Naples;" "Hungary, Prov: Phillipowan;" "France, Pyrenees;" "Austria, Schlavonia;" "Spain, Valencia;" "Italy, Bologna;" "Austria, Ilauzi;" "Illyria;" "Switzerland, Berne;" "Portugal, Vale of Almeda;" and "Grand Duchy of Baden." MANSION, [Andre-Leon] (1785-1834). A truly beautiful suite of plates depicting the national ball costumes of countries such as Hungary, Switzerland, and Austria. Andre Leon Larue, known professionally as Mansion, was the son of a portrait painter. He worked predominantly as a miniaturist, creating portraits of such figures as Empress Josephine (1763-1814) and Napoleon I (1769-1821). However, he also had a celebrated career as an aquatinter, producing such notable suites of costume plates as Fancy Dress Ball (1831) and the present suite, National Ball Costumes. The artist's soft modeling of the fabrics and the delicate detailing of the character's faces, all recall the artist's training in miniature painting. This series of ball costumes, when issued, was reviewed by The Spectator where it was described as following on from a 'series of superb costumes' entitled "Fancy Ball Dresses", of which we have had occasion to speak in terms of admiration, and with whose style most of our readers are familiar, having seen the plates in the prire shop windows for these few months past. The same clever artist (who is a Frenchman, by the way) has commenced a new series of female costumes, denominated "National Ball Costumes", which are got up in the same splendid style of colouring, and are equally distinguished for richness of effect and costliness of materials and ornament' (The Spectator, 3 December 1831, pp. 20-21). Bobins IV, 1248; Not in Colas, Hiler or Lipperheide.