Lomazzo (Giovanni Paolo) A Tracte containing the Artes of Curious Paintinge, Carvinge & Buildinge, first edition in English, translated by Richard Haydocke, engraved title and 13 full-page illustrations, some after Dürer, woodcut initials and numerous fine typographical ornaments, lacking final leaf (colophon), embossed ownership stamp of Derek Gibson to front free endpaper, title with contemporary inscription at head (shaved) and rather soiled and frayed at edges with slight loss to outer corners (neatly supplied in ink and laid down), small stains to A2-3, B5 & D6, some other staining towards end particularly 2O1 & 2, a few leaves shaved at head at end, 2I1 defective at foot with slight loss to ornament and 3 lines of text on verso, a remboitage in later crimson straight-grain morocco elaborately tooled in gilt with wheel design, spine gilt in compartments, later paste-paper endpapers, rubbed, spine faded, [Harris 519; STC 16698; cf.Berlin Kat 4612 & Fowler 186, earlier Milan editions], small folio (c.250 x 180mm.), [Oxford, by Joseph Barnes for Richard Haydocke], [1598].

⁂ Lomazzo's influential Mannerist treatise was the first treatise on art to be published in England. It was dedicated to Thomas Bodley and was one of the first works to be presented to the Bodleian Library. "It was the first book on the arts to be translated and the reason for its choice must have been its thorough treatment of painting...". Harris p. 297.