Musee Royal de Naples, peintures, bronzes et statues erotiques du cabinet secret,

Very handsome, fully hand-coloured copy of best edition - here in a fine binding, with wide margins and fresh plates, showing erotic subjects in a classical Roman manner.

Taken from the secret cabinet of the King of Naples, some pieces coming from Pompei and Herculaneum. About half the plates depict sculptures in various media, while the other half show scenes, individual people, Gods and couples, often with a touch of humour.

Published five years earlier under a slightly different title, the first edition had only 41 plates without colour. The present edition is often found without colour either, but it remained famous and was republished in 1857 and 1959.