Giuseppe Wilpert.

LE PITTURE DELLE CATACOMBE ROMANE [two volume set].

Rome: Desclee, 1903. Complete two volume set. Folio. A pair of massive, heavy books bound in brownish gold cloth. Former seminary library books with shelf labels and small library stamps on title pages but otherwise free of library markings. The binding of Vol. II is shaken - all plates are present but there are cracks in the text block and the page edges are uneven (i.e., some plates stick out a few millimeters from the others - the foredge is not perfectly smooth). Two plates have some short tears along their edges but these do not affect the image - the tears are only in the blank margins. Otherwise the plates are in fine condition. Item #47235

Text in Italian. Vol. I is text along with 52 b/w line drawings; Vol. II contains 267 plates in both color and b/w which reproduce artwork from the Catacombs of Rome. Vol. II includes a number of striking color plates, including a double-page plate of the Madonna and Christ Child. An important and very scarce work which is still the definitive study of early Christian art. This is a servicable copy which while not in perfect condition is whole and intact and excellent for reference and research.

Price: $2,500.00