1787 The School of Fencing by Mr. Angelo

Description: The School of Fencing with a General Explanation of the Principal Attitudes and Positions Peculiar to The Art. By Mr. Angelo ANGELO, DOMENICO [MALEVOLTI TREMAMONDO]Printed in London COMPLETE with all pages and all plates. This book was evaluated by fine books and manuscripts specialists from Christie's auction house is priced based on their recommendations. Buy it here before it goes to an auction. This volume has been described by Nick Evangelista (author of The Encyclopedia of the Sword) as "the all-time classic volume on the subject of swordplay" and "a work of immense influence." In 1787, Angelo reissued his father's L'école des armes (1763), with fencing illustrations copied from Diderot's Encyclopédie, under the title The School of Fencing. This item will be packed carefully and shipped to you one day after your payment is received. The item is insured. A signature will be required for delivery. If you want any additional pictures or have questions, send me a message. First published in England in 1763 under the French title L’Ecole d’armes avec l’explication generale des principales attitudes et positions concernant l’escrime. The 47 engravings that illustrate the work were produced from original drawings by the artist James Gwynn (Royal Academy). The illustrations were taken from life, and Angelo himself was the principal model. The 1765 edition is the first in English, and the only edition to have parallel English and French text on each page. It is also the only edition to be illustrated in colour; Gwynn’s illustrations being re-used and hand-coloured for the new edition. Who was Domenico Angelo? Angelo (full name Domenico Angelo Malevolti Tremamondo) was born in Livorno, Italy in 1717, the son of a merchant. He probably began learning to fence in Italy, but later studied the French style under the fencing master Monsieur Teillagory in Paris, after being sent to study international trade by his father in about 1744. Whilst in Paris Angelo met and fell in love with the celebrated Irish Actress Margaret Woffington, who was then on tour, and travelled to London and then to Dublin with her in the early-1750s. After their affection came to an end Angelo moved back to London, where he met and married Elizabeth Johnson in 1755. In London Angelo gained the patronage of the earl of Pembroke and quickly established a reputation as a fencing master and opened his own School of Arms in Carlisle House, Soho, in 1761. Such was his reputation that he numbered many wealthy gentlemen amongst his clientele, including several members of the Royal Family. With the great and good of the gentry as his pupils, Angelo’s place in society was assured. His school was also noted at the time for accepting female students, including actresses from the London theatres. In 1763 he produced his great work L’Ecole d’armes. It was financed by subscriptions from over 200 of his wealthy clients, and dedicated to Princes William Henry and Henry Frederic (younger brothers to King George III), who were both pupils. The English translation, The School of Fencing, was produced in several editions, though none were as lavish as the first edition of 1765. It is thought that he was assisted in translating the text into English by his friend the famous French-English diplomat, spy, the Chevalier d’Eon, another former pupil of Monsieur Teillagory. The School of Fencing primarily teaches the use of the small-sword and fencing foil, with brief sections on the use of weapons for the off-hand, including dagger, cloak and lantern. There is also a section on the use of the small-sword against the military sabre (or broadsword, as Angelo terms it). In its day the book was recognized as a clear and concise guide to fencing, and the author was lauded for his emphasis on fencing being a gentlemanly exercise and accomplishment, as well as a skill of self defence. Indeed, so good was the work deemed to be, that Denis Diderot used it – in its entirety (with redrawn engravings in black and white) – as the fencing section of his famous Encyclopedie. In 1780 Domenico Angelo handed over the running of his school to his eldest son Henry and retired to Eton, where he died in 1802. Domenico Angelo (1717 Leghorn, Italy[1] – 1802, Twickenham, England), was an Italian sword and fencing master, also known as Angelo Domenico Malevolti Tremamondo. The son of a merchant, he was the founder of the Angelo Family of fencers. He has been praised as "the first to emphasize fencing as a means of developing health, poise, and grace. As a result of his insight and influence, fencing changed from an art of war to a sport."[2] In England, Angelo gained the patronage of Henry Herbert, 10th Earl of Pembroke, and three years later of the dowager Princess of Wales, who appointed him as riding and fencing master to George, Prince of Wales, and his brother Edward, duke of York.[3] By then he had established Angelo's School of Arms in Carlisle House, Soho, London.[4] In 1763 he bought Carlisle House, Soho Square, where he taught the aristocracy the fashionable art of swordsmanship. One of his tenants there was the composer Johann Christian Bach, youngest son of J.S. Bach and harpsichord instructor to the Queen.[3] With the help of artist Gwyn Delin, he had a fencing instruction book, L'École des armes'', published in England in 1763, with 25 engraved plates demonstrating classic positions from the old schools of fencing. This placed its "emphasis on fencing as a source of gentlemanly exercise rather than as a necessary preparation for duel".[3] In 1760, Angelo handed over his school to a son,[5] and established himself at Eton, where his family continued to teach fencing for three more generations.

Price: 2500 USD

Location: Palo Alto, California

End Time: 2024-11-20T16:42:34.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5.38 USD