Beschreibung:

HODGES, William (1744-1797). Select Views in India, drawn on the spot, in the years 1780, 1781, 1782, and 1783, and executed in aqua tinta. London: [no publisher but ?for the author, sold by J.Edwards, 1785-1788]. 2 volumes in one volume, 2° (479 x 360mm). Mounted on guards throughout. Parallel titles, dedication in vol.I and text in English and French (contents listed in English only). 48 FINE DOUBLE-PAGE AQUATINT VIEWS BY HODGES, printed in brown, one double-page engraved map. (Light old dampstain to margins of some plates, some spotting, intrusive on three occasions, first title and about four other leaves creased at inner margins.) Contemporary diced russia gilt (spine dry and somewhat chipped at head and foot, joints split). A FINE LARGE COPY of what is, according to Abbey, "probably, but not certainly, the earlier edition." A great deal of work remains to be done before the order of precedence of the two editions can be established, however the present edition without an imprint and with the text printed in a portrait format apparently corresponds with the parts issue and is therefore probably the earlier. The Abbey copy is a large-paper hand-coloured issue of the ?later edition. Hodges' pioneering work was openly derided by his more illustrious contemporary Thomas Daniell but his views have a freedom which admirably captures the spontaneity of the wash originals. Hodges worked as draughtsman on Cook's second voyage (1772-1775) and "was one of the earliest artists to bring back views of India...", he "died by his own hand, a poor man, in 1797."(Abbey). Tooley 263; cf. Abbey Travel 416.