The Seats of the Nobility and Gentry, In a Collection of the most interesting & Picturesque Views, From Drawings by the most eminent Artists. With descriptions of each View

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An Excellent & Attractive copy. Engraved title-page and 84 plates, each with a leaf of descriptive text in letterpress. 1 f. (Alphabetical Index with errata to verso). Oblong 4to, 228*206 mm, bound in contemporary English blue long grain morocco, elaborate gilt tooled edges. Spine, raised bands, decorative gilt tooling & title, small brown paper number label at base, a.e.g., not dated (plates dated 1779-86; watermarks dated 1795-1809), blue endpapers, small owners stamp to fpd (ES). The delicate engravings in this, Watt's most famous work, offer present-day viewers a most important record of English stately homes and the late eighteenth century gardens that surrounded them. The engravings were executed by Watts after his own designs, as well as those of Indigo Jones and others. John Harris has shown that these views offer valuable contemporary evidence of the architecture and gardens of each estate. Among these are two views of Chiswick House, Middlesex, the seat of the Duke of Devonshire. another of Chatsworth in Derbyshire with modifications by Lancelot Capability Brown; Burghley House in Northamptonshire, the seat of the Earl of Exeter, with alterations by Capabity Brown; Wilton House, the seat of the Earl of Pembroke; Alnwick Castle, the seat of the Duke of Northumberland; Charlton House in Wiltshire, the seat of the Earl of Suffolk, which was designed by Indigo Jones; and many others. Binding scuffed along lower edge, but an excellent, attractive copy. William Watts obtained his art education from such noted artists as Paul Sanby and Edward Rooker. His Seats of the Nobilit, which was originally issued serially in the years 1779-1786, is his best known work. John Harris, The Artist and the Country House p156, 258, 261, 282. Bryan V, 347. Benezit X, 656. Ian Mackenzie, British Prints p342 (recording 80 plates only).