OVID. Ovid’s Art of Love, In Three Books. Together with His Remedy of Love. Translated into English Verse by Several Eminent Hands [John Dryden, William Congreve, Nahum Tate]. To which are added, The Court of Love: A Tale from Chaucer [by Arthur Maynwaring] and The History of Love [by Charles Hopkins]. London: Printed for Jacob and Richard Tonson, in the Strand, 1757 [MDCCLVII]. Small Octavo (12mo), adorned with exquisite copperplate illustrations by Samuel Gribelin.
This handsome mid-18th-century volume is a masterclass in the elegant, witty, and deeply provocative visual culture of Georgian England. Published by the legendary Tonson dynasty—the undisputed gatekeepers of classical literature in London—this work brings together ancient Rome's most scandalous masterpieces under the stewardship of the finest minds of the Restoration and early Enlightenment. Far from a simple schoolboy translation, this text represents a collaborative triumph, utilizing the poetic verse of John Dryden, William Congreve, and Poet Laureate Nahum Tate to translate Ovid's unapologetic guide to romance, courtship, and heartbreak into high-society art.
What makes this specific 1757 printing an absolute prize is its breathtaking visual program. The volume is profusely illustrated with brilliant, intricate copperplate engravings executed by Samuel Gribelin Junior (the preeminent Huguenot engraver renowned for his precision line-work). The plates—including the dramatic mythological frontispieces and divisional illustrations along with sensuous scenes of classical deities lounging in idyllic pastoral landscapes, the imagery beautifully reflects the period’s obsession with classical hedonism and erotic allegory.
Long before dating apps or self-help books, the Western world turned to a single, notoriously banned text to decode the laws of attraction: Ovid's Art of Love. Originally written in the dawn of the Roman Empire (and the scandalous reason Ovid was banished by Emperor Augustus), this work is a surprisingly modern, sharply satirical masterclass in relationships. Ovid approaches love like a strategic game, mapping out exactly how to find, charm, and keep a partner; Before pivoting to his equally cynical Remedy of Love to explain how to gracefully survive a breakup. Combined with Chaucerian romance and Charles Hopkins' evocative mythological verse, this Tonson edition continues to be a massive cultural powerhouse. It captures a moment in 18th-century high society that embraced ancient classical and the desires to break free from rigid puritanical traditions, turning the secrets of desire into sophisticated literary art. Very rich book and a great read!
Condition Report• Binding: Hardcover bound in a beautiful, classic full brown leather binding with subtle gold-tooled peripheral line borders framing the boards. The leather is rich and uniform in tone. Corners are chipping with somewhat rounded (see photos). Expertly rebacked in matching period-style brown leather. The spine features pronounced raised bands dividing five distinct compartments, with a vibrant crimson morocco leather title label.
• Interior: An very clean, crisp, and bright text block. Complete from the initial title page through the final leaf of Charles Hopkins’ The History of Love concluding on page 323 with a "FINIS".
We provide detailed photographs to allow you to assess the book's condition and aesthetic appeal.
