LORAIN (Prosper). A Historical Essay on the Abbey of Cluny, - Lot 233

LORAIN (Prosper). A Historical Essay on the Abbey of Cluny, followed by supporting documents and various excerpts from the correspondence between Peter the Venerable and Saint Bernard. First edition of this extremely rare historical study on Cluny Abbey, illustrated with 6 beautiful lithographic plates showing old views of the abbey as well as a fold-out map, all enriched with 3 additional plates of views. Dijon, Popelain, 1839. In-8 (155x240 mm), brown half-basane, smooth spine decorated with solid and dotted cold-stamped and gilded fillets, title gilded on a burgundy leather label, speckled edges (contemporary binding). XLVIII and 508 pages, 6 lithographed plates by Guasco-Jobard after Sagot, including one as a frontispiece, 1 fold-out map lithographed by Jobard. Minor scuffing at the joints and along the edges, a small wormhole in the leather, a few faint foxing spots in the margins. First edition of this rare historical and architectural study by Prosper Lorain on Cluny Abbey, one of the largest and most influential abbeys in medieval Europe. It is illustrated with 6 magnificent lithographic plates showing views of the abbey before its destruction, views of the apse, and a view of a street in the old town of Cluny, as well as a fold-out plate showing comparative plans of the church of Cluny Abbey, the cathedral of Besançon, and Notre Dame de Dijon. It is followed by additional and supporting documents and various fragments of Pierre-le-Vénérable’s correspondence with Saint Bernard. This copy is enriched with three small additional plates, including a view of the abbey’s dome, an interior view of the church, and a view of the interior door and its ornamental details. It also contains three handwritten folios (130x180 mm and 110x120 mm), two of which are written in Latin, relating to the history of the abbey. A fine copy.