Vispré, Le moyen de devenir peintre en trois heures, Paris, 1755, contemporary mottled calf

Vispré, François Xavier. Le moyen de devenir peintre en trois heures, et d'exécuter au pinceau les Ouvrages des plus grands Maîtres, sans avoir appris le dessin. Paris: les Libraires Associés, 1755

First edition of Vispré's treatise on painting. Vispré (ca 1730-1789) was a painter and printmaker, and in this unusual guide, presented in the form of a dialogue between Vispré and a marquise, he describes a method of painting on reverse glass or using a mirror, to enable an amateur to create impressive reproductions quickly. He later moved to London and Dublin where he worked as a miniature painter.

12mo (166 x 95 mm) Roman type, 21 lines plus headline. collation: π² ẽ² A-L⁶ *¹: 69 leaves. Half-title, title, woodcut initials and headpieces. (Small stain to E4r, somewhat browned.)

binding: Contemporary mottled calf (171 x 102 mm), spine gilt with burgundy calf label, red edges. (Spine and edges repaired.)

acquisition: Purchased in 2013 from Kenneth Karmiole, Santa Monica.