Roman Costumes

London: Rodwell & Martin, 1820. The Way They Wore In Italy
An Early Example of Lithography

PINELLI, [Bartolomeo] and HULLMANDEL, C[harles Joseph]. Roman Costumes; Drawn From Nature by Pinelli and C. Hullmandel: On Stone by C. Hullmandel. London: Rodwell & Martin, n.d. [1820].

Large oblong folio (12 x 17 1/8 inches; 305 x 435 mm). Vignette lithograph title-page and twenty-four hand-colored lithographed plates. The plates are watermarked 1817.

Early twentieth century half red calf over marbled boards ruled in blind. Smooth spine ruled and lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. A near fine copy.

Rare; scarce with hand-coloring. An early book from the dawn of lithography by Hullmandel "the man who did more than any other to establish lithography in England" (Abbey).

These plates reproduce in part the scenes and costumes created after the aquatint plates executed by Pinelli in 1809.

"If you want to know about the culture and costumes in Rome during the early nineteenth century, look no further than Bartolomeo Pinelli. His portfolios of etchings include Collection of Roman Costumes, Another Collection of Roman Costumes, The Carnival of Rome, Roman History, Costumes of the Roman Countryside and so on. These unbound sets have often been broken up, sold individually, and reassembled into personalized compilations for private collectors. Graphic Arts holds such an album titled Twenty-Seven Etchings Illustrative of Italian Manners and Costume (1844), comprising Picturesque Costumes of Rome, in twelve plates; The Carnival, in five plates; and Adventures of Massaroni, in ten plates." (Julie L. Melby / Princeton).

The present work appears to be the first substantial book to be printed entirely by Charles Hullmandel (his earlier Twenty-four views of Italy [1818] includes a varying number of plates printed by Moser & Harris). It is very rare and was unknown to Abbey. Hullmandel appears to have begun the publication on his own, presumably in an attempt to build on the success of his earlier work, and using the highly fashionable Pinelli's etchings as his models.

The plates:
1. Woman of Frascati. (Feb 25, 1820).
2. Women of Tivoli. (Feb 25, 1820).
3. The Tarantella. (Feb 25, 1820).
4. Piferari Playing Before a Madonna. (Feb 25, 1820).
5. Woman of the Environs of Terni. (Feb 25, 1820).
6. Sbirri of the Kingdom of Naples. (Feb 25, 1820).
7. Romans Playing at Ruzzola. (March 10, 1820).
8. Washer-women at Tivoli. (March 10, 1820).
9. Peasants of the Sabine Country. (March 10, 1820).
10. Peasants of Tivoli singing Litanies. (March 10, 1820).
11. Women of Marino, near Frascati. (March 10, 1820).
12. Women of La Cervara, near Subiaco. (March 10, 1820).
13. The Game of Morra. (May 1, 1820).
14. A common scene in Italy. (May 1, 1820).
15. Ha toccato la Chiesa! (May 1, 1820).
16. A vender of Water-melons. (May 1, 1820).
17. A Roman Beggar. (May 1, 1820).
18. Peasants of Arpino, Kingdom of Naples. (May 1, 1820).
19. A Scene in Rome. (October 1, 1820).
20. The Roman Swing. (October 1, 1820).
21. Roman Discoveries. (October 1, 1820).
22. Ma che Fritto! (October 1, 1820).
23. Itinerant Tinkers. (October 1, 1820).
24. The Serenade. (October 1, 1820).

Bobins II, 594; Colas 2382; Twyman, M. Lithography 1800-1850, p. 188.