Art History and Literature Illustrations c.1920s–1930s – Virtue & Co. Ltd., London – 118 Plates – Early Educational Art Reference Book
A substantial early 20th-century illustrated reference volume titled Art History and Literature Illustrations, published by Virtue & Co. Ltd., London, and arranged with descriptive notes by Jessie Noakes (Somerville College, Oxford). This impressive compendium contains 118 plates—including 18 colour plates and 100 half-tone illustrations—covering classical, medieval, and Renaissance artworks, historical scenes, and literary subjects.
The book was produced for educational and academic use, likely between c.1920–1935, based on printing style, binding materials, and the history of Virtue & Co. (a major London publishing house active until the mid-20th century). Works such as Fra Angelico’s Annunciation, Giotto’s frescoes, Venetian portraits, and medieval manuscript scenes highlight the high-quality reproduction techniques of the period.
Although the cloth-covered boards remain intact, the text block has separated from the spine, a common age-related issue among early educational folios. The contents, however, appear complete, with plates generally in good, clean condition aside from expected toning and occasional edge wear.
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