The Compleat Drawing Book by [Robert Sayer] - 1755: Containing Many and Curious Specimens

Good copy of this seminal 18th century English art tutorial

With 90 (of 100) copperplate engravings (plates 68/69 bound out of order, lacking plates 42, 44, 45, 52, 55, 56, 61, 66, 86, 95.)

Sayer includes 50 prints from Sebastien Le Clerc's Principes de dessein (1700), as well as drawings by the "best masters" of the day, such as Francis Barlow and Charles Le Brun.

In addition to anatomical studies of the human body, heads, limbs, facial expressions, etc., there are groups of figures by Johann Sebastian Muller, landscapes by J. Armstrong engraved by William Henry Toms, animals engraved by H. Stevens, etc. Many plates with duplicate in outline.

Ink inscription on front endpaper: "This book was my grandmother's, Margaret Owen afterwards Mrs. Barnsby. It was given to my mother Mrs Barnsby Gore Harbeck. Given by me to Mary Egerton for her boys, 1859."

Robert Sayer (1725 – 1794) was a successful publisher of prints, maps and educational books based in Fleet Street, London. His guide books and pattern books were influential in spreading the vogue for Chinese, Gothic, Rustic and Classical design.

Quarter leather binding with front board completely separated, title page in red and black foxed with 5mm of top edge cut out to remove an ink ownership signature, text and engravings mostly clean and sharp with some slight toning, one plate No. 64 trimmed to the plate mark on three sides, folding plate No. 100 with some offsetting.