Group of Nine Grotesque Masks.

Rare. Strong impressions of etchings of grotesque masks, after original designs by the Italian (Rome) artist and engraver Aloisio Giovannoli (1550-1618). The publisher claims that the masks were inspired by antiquity but a more likely source of inspiration is the work of Giulio Romano (Pouncey & Gere, Italian Drawings in the British Museum, Raphael and his circle, London 1962, plates 94, 113) and others including the French Renaissance artist René Boyvin (ca. 1525-1598).
Published as Serie di Mascheroni Cavati dall'antico che per la prima volta escono in luce intagliati in rame opera utile a professori ed amatori delle belle arti.
Plates are lettered either 'Libro P[rimo]' or 'Libro S[econdo]' and also numbered, inscribed 'C.P' (cum priviligio); Some have the artist's name, 'Ali Gio'. On some plates, this has been partially burnished out. There is no record of any previous issue of the plates, and Monaldini's claim on the title-page (not present) that prints here are 'per la prima volta escono in luce' makes it probable that these prints are published here for the first time.