VILLA-AMIL, Genaro Pérez de.
España artística y monumental.
París, casa de Alberto Hauser: 1842 – 1850. 3 vols.
Important work published in fascicles between 1842 and 1850, aimed at  highlighting the architectural beauty of 19th century Spain as well as the virtues, traditions and customs of the Spanish people in the style of the illustrated travel books characteristic of Romanticism.
The painter Genaro Pérez de Villa-Amil was the author of the drawings, which were later lithographed. The text, in Spanish and French, is by Patricio de la Escosura, and the financing provided by the important banker and patron of the arts, Gaspar de Remisa.
The magnificent lithographs correspond to the Parisian workshop Lemercier and are of extraordinary quality.
Villa-Amil (1807-1854) is the greatest Spanish exponent of romantic landscape painting. He was greatly influenced by the French painter David Roberts. He was professor and director of the Royal Academy of San Fernando and chamber painter to His Catholic Majesty.
Patricio de la Escosura Morrogh (1807 – 1878) was a Spanish politician, critic, journalist and romantic writer. Together with his fellow students and friends, José de Espronceda and Ventura de la Vega, he founded the secret society Los Numantinos (1823-1825), whose objectives were to avenge the death of the liberal Rafael de Riego and to end the absolute government, costing them exile.
Large folio (57 x 41). Volume 1: pp. [5] 4-99 [48 plates]; Volume 2: pp.
[2] 2-91 [48 plates]; Volume 3: pp. [2] 2-103 [48 plates]. 144 lithographs
together with explanatory texts. Ink library stamp on first volume. Fine
condition.