MBA002: Lot 4. GALLESIO, Giorgio.

Known as the finest Italian work on fruits, and described by Dunthorne as ‘a very fine work’, the Pomona Italiana engaged around twenty artists and a further twenty engravers in its production by the retired, and somewhat disenchanted civil servant, Giorgio Gallesio, who took refuge in his passion for botany. He had already produced a work on citrus fruits, hence their absence from this title.

Description

[vol 3], original printed blue paper part wrapper bound in as title, with volume number inscribed in pencil, with 36 richly colour-printed stipple-engravings of various fruits including apples, pomegranate, plums, apricots, olives, almonds and other nuts, finished by hand and heightened with gum-arabic, tissue guards, some light spotting throughout, mostly marginal, contemporary green morocco-backed marbled boards, vellum-tipped corners, edges worn, folio,

Bibliography