L'Antique Rome by J. Grasset Saint-Sauveur - 1796 (An IV): ou description historique et pittoresque de tout ce qui concerne le peuple romain, dans ses costumes civiles, militaires et religieux, dans ses moeurs publiques et privées

Complete collection of 50 costume plates illustrating emperors, priests, soldiers, gladiators and officials of ancient Rome.

Two handcoloured frontispieces and 50 handcoloured copperplates drawn and engraved by L. Labrousse, artist of Bordeaux, under the direction of Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur.

The 50 vivid portraits illustrate all ranks of Roman society, from the Emperor or dictator to patrician, citizen and plebeian; civic officers such as senator, political candidate, praetor, orator, aedile, quaestor, tribune, censor, and magistrate's lictor; religious figures such as Rex sacrificulus (king of sacrifices), Ponitifex maximus (chief high priest), high priest, priestess, Luperci, fetialis and flamen priests, victimarius (executioner), haruspex and augur; military figures such as Praetorian guard, aquilifer (standard bearer), legionary, funditor (slinger), sagittarius (archer), hastatus (lancer) and buccinator (hornplayer); and circus athletes such as charioteer, gladiator, retiarius, secutor, and boxers.

Six images of Roman women, including female patrician and citizen, priestess, Vestal Virgin, sibyl and a noble woman having her hair and make-up done by two domestic slaves.

The figures are dynamic and active, portrayed in social scenes including weddings, religious ceremonies, festivals, circus games, military camps and battles, triumphal parades, etc., against suitable architectural or landscape backgrounds. The costumes date from the mythical founding of the city by Romulus to the time of Emperor Augustulus (5th century).

Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur (1757-1810) was a French writer, diplomat and artist. After studying with the Jesuits of Sainte-Barbe from 1764, he followed his father's career in diplomacy, acting as vice-consul in Hungary and Egypt. Between 1784 and 1812, he published about 20 books, many illustrated, most notably L'Antique Rome (1796), Encyclopédie des voyages (1795-96), Costumes des représentants du peuple, membres des deux conseils, du directoire exécutif (1796), Les Fastes du peuple français (1796), and Acteurs et actrices célèbres (1808).

In original paper board covers, battered and scuffed but solid, black and gilt paper label on spine, original endpapers, book block firm, interior mostly clean and unfoxed, all plates with crisp impressions and vibrant hand-colour, a few with finger smudges or foxing stains outside the plate mark.

Published in An !V (Year 4, or 1796), when the French Revolutionaries were looking at classical civilization, particularly ancient Rome, for inspiration and instruction on republicanism, political reform, nation building and even costume.