Richard Blome.
“Opticks, & Perspective”
From The Gentleman’s Recreations.
London, 1686.

Richard Blome was a well known publisher and seller of maps and prints who worked in London in the mid 17th century. He began his career as a publisher of maps in collaboration with notable mapmakers including John Seller and John Ogilby. During the latter part of his career he produced books on subjects that permitted more opportunities for decorative embellishment. This engraving is from Blome’s The Gentleman’s Recreations, a work containing many beautifully and elaborately engraved illustrations. In this case they include figures set in a landscape studying the effect of perspective. 

The sheet instructs the viewer that “Opticks hath two parts – “perspective” and “speculiar.” Perpective is further broken down into over twenty-five aspects.  Speculiar comprehends the reasons of halfe appearances that represent themselves to the eye because of the distance, discoveries likewise, Temperies which happen to the sight through the various quality of air and ye Artifice of Glasses.”

A great gift for that opthomologist or optician on your gift list~

15 x 11 inches, sheet.
Hand colored copperplate engraving.
Excellent condition save one wormhole at center and one small spot of foxing.