WINCKELMANN, Johann Joachim (1717-1768). Monumenti antichi inediti spiegati ed illustrati. Rome: a spese dell'autore, 1767.

First edition of Winckelmann's final work of ancient art history. Winckelmann, the most famous antiquary of his day, considered this book the culmination of his career, outlining his mythological interpretations of previously unpublished monuments and decisively linking the disciplines of philology and art history. The introduction comprises a meditation on beauty, arguing for the superiority of the Greek imagination as the key to their art. It was prepared in Italian in hope of a larger buying audience, forcing Winckelmann to censor some of his references to male homosexuality. In the year following its publication at his expense, the author was brutally stabbed to death in Trieste—scuppering the marketing for the book. Despite its historical inaccuracies, the book was received with interest in later decades by those enamored by Winckelmann's life and legend and provided a major influence on the study of art history. Cicognara 2506; Millard Italian 164.

Two volumes in one, folio (389 x 270mm). Titles printed in red and black. 208 engravings, engraved vignettes in text (a little light spotting and staining, some toning in vol. 2). Contemporary stiff vellum with decorated paper endleaves (a little soiled). Provenance: unidentified Italian armorial bookplate – George M. Standish (bookplate dated 1898 with note of gift to:) – Drexel Institute Library (bookplate and stamp on first text leaf).