XVIIth THEATRE. MOREAU LE JEUNE. MOLIÈRE. OEuvres. Avec des - Lot 218

XVIIth THEATRE. MOREAU LE JEUNE. MOLIÈRE. OEuvres. Avec des Remarques grammaticales ; des Avertissemens et des Observations sur chaque Pièce, par M. Bret . Paris, Compagnie des libraires associés, 1773. 6 volumes in-8, grouped in pairs. Contemporary fawn calf, 5-ribbed spine, gilt title and tomaison, ornate flowered boxes, triple gilt fillet framing the boards, gilt fillet on the edges, marbled edges, fine marbled paper endpapers. In 3 imitation slipcases with marbled paper and tan calf bias. First edition, established and commented by Antoine Bret, a prolific 18th-century playwright and gazetier. One of the most beautiful editions of the OEuvres de J.B. Poquelin, with the etchings by Moreau Le Jeune, always sought-after. With the portrait of Molière in Volume I, engraved by Cathelin after the famous painting by Mignard. The 32 black engravings are after Moreau le jeune, finely engraved by Helman, A. J. Duclos, D. Née, J. B. Simonet... Each title page adorned with a fleuron by Moreau, engraved by himself, i.e. 6 small etchings. This copy includes pages 66-67 and 80-81 of Volume 1 in duplicate, and Moreau's signature on the engraving of Le Sicilien. "This is the year in which Moreau produced his distinctive illustration of Molière's OEuvres; an elegant and serious illustration, in which the artist carefully avoids all scenes that stray from comedy to farce: (...) no Sganarelle (....), no mamamouchis (...) nothing but Lucindes and Célimènes, Clitandres and Don Juans in the latest taste of 1773. (...) Moreau reserved the right to engrave a single vignette, that of the Sicilian, because, under the features of Adraste, he represented himself. We thus have a portrait of Moreau engraved by Moreau (...) At the same time as this vignette, Moreau very wittily engraved six fleurons, intended for the titles of this famous edition". Portalis and Beraldi, Graveurs du dix-huitième siècle (1880). Cohen, 323 and 717. Very slight rubbing to spine, cuts and corners, discreet restored epidermis to boards, but interior still fresh.