Louis-Sébastien LE NAIN DE TILLEMONT
Histoire des empereurs, et des autres princes qui ont régné durant les six premiers siècles de l'eglise, de leurs guerres contre les Juifs, des écivains profanes, & des personnes les plus illustres de leur temps
Chez François Pitteri|Venise [Venice] 1732 - 1739|20.50 x 28 cm|6 volumes reliés
First Venetian edition, after the original published in Paris from 1690 to 1701 for the first five volumes, 1738 for the sixth posthumous volume published from the author's manuscript. 6 title vignettes signed Cattini.
Contemporary Italian full vellum binding. Smooth Jansenist spine. Beige morocco title labels. Some soiling to the spines and various stains to the boards. Very handsome set in vellum on beautiful rag paper in perfectly fresh condition.
This history of the emperors, a biographical compendium of all emperors and great princes of the first six centuries without distinction between East and West, earned the Jansenist author his reputation and lasting influence as a historian. What earned him criticism in his time assured him a fruitful future, namely a simple style, devoid of affectation or flourish, for Le Nain addressed scholars rather than the general public, a method based on the use of reliable historical materials, that is to say validated by scrupulous examination and principles of historical criticism; however he admits himself that to separate true information from false, he relies on his experience. As a counterpoint to this history of the emperors, and of all the emperors, the author never loses sight of that of the Jews and of Christianity, which is for him the guiding thread, the true meaning of History. Le Nain de Tillemont knew his vocation as historian very early, and assembled from the age of 18 the historical material that enabled him to write this work at the end of his life.
The numerous notes and tables clarify the vast sum of knowledge contained in the six volumes.
Contemporary Italian full vellum binding. Smooth Jansenist spine. Beige morocco title labels. Some soiling to the spines and various stains to the boards. Very handsome set in vellum on beautiful rag paper in perfectly fresh condition.
This history of the emperors, a biographical compendium of all emperors and great princes of the first six centuries without distinction between East and West, earned the Jansenist author his reputation and lasting influence as a historian. What earned him criticism in his time assured him a fruitful future, namely a simple style, devoid of affectation or flourish, for Le Nain addressed scholars rather than the general public, a method based on the use of reliable historical materials, that is to say validated by scrupulous examination and principles of historical criticism; however he admits himself that to separate true information from false, he relies on his experience. As a counterpoint to this history of the emperors, and of all the emperors, the author never loses sight of that of the Jews and of Christianity, which is for him the guiding thread, the true meaning of History. Le Nain de Tillemont knew his vocation as historian very early, and assembled from the age of 18 the historical material that enabled him to write this work at the end of his life.
The numerous notes and tables clarify the vast sum of knowledge contained in the six volumes.
€1,600