Folio (515 x 380 mm; 567 x 418 mm), Part 1: lithographic title and 1 frontispiece 'Mosquée de Cordoue', 1 pp. of text within lithographic borders, 1 pp. of list of plates, 8 lithograph plates (some browning to plate 3 and plate 6 is erroneously numbered 3) / Part 2: lithographic title and frontispiece 'La Giralda et Alcazar de Séville', 1 pp. of text within lithographic borders, 1 pp. of list of plates, 6 lithograph plates / Part 3: lithographic title and 1 frontispiece 'Souvenirs de Grenade et de L'Alhambra', 5 pp. of text within lithographic borders, 1 pp. of list of plates, 30 lithograph plates of which one represents the Alhambra Palace and the last plate is folding on a double page (some browning to plate 22), half-calf morocco binding, covers slightly rubbed, some marginal staining (not affecting the plates), copy in very good condition otherwise, published by Veith et Hauser, Paris, [1836-1839].

Synopsis

AN IMPRESSIVE SERIAL PUBLICATION ON THE ARABIAN ANTIQUITIES OF SPAIN, also available hand-coloured, showing external and internal views, architectural details and ornaments, with a plan of the Alhambra. One of the finest view books produced at the time; Girault de Prangey used the most skilled artists to interpret his drawings in the lithographic stone. Includes views, architectural details, ornaments and plans; the figures in the foreground of the views add charm as well as recording costume and customs. The plates were engraved first in Paris by famous painters, after which de Prangey coloured them according to the original colours. The documentation of de Prangey has an immense value because of the destruction and changes that have taken place on the Arab monuments in Spain. Part titles and the numbered plates are signed as drawn by Girault de Prangey (Granada 18, 26 as painted by him) but for Cordoba 1, after Asselineau, and Granada 27, after Bayot and Sabatièr.
The three parts are as follows:
1- Mosquée de Cordoue, vues générales intérieurs détaills et plans dessinés et mesurés surles lieux en 1833.
II- La Giralda et L’Alcazar de Sévile.
III- Souvenirs De Grenade et de L’Alhambra.
After the publication of Murphy’s “The Arabian Antiquities of Spain” in 1816, this book is considered the first detailed study of the Arabian architecture in Al-Andalus. Girault de Prangey was at first interested in the Roman and Greek architecture, but later he concentrated on studying Arab arts. He travelled in 1832 to Granada, Cordoba and Seville and spent three years there after which he produced this monumental work.
Bibliographic reference: Brunet, II 1614; Creswell, 332 and 356; Graesse, III 89.