KOTZEBUE, Augustus Von. Travels through Italy, in the Years 1804 and 1805. Four volumes. First English edition. 279, [1]p; 302pp; xii, 263pp; xvi, 331, [1]p. A very good set bound in recent dark green half calf, blind stamped spines with red morocco labels. Some light foxing and occasional rather unobtrusive blind stamp of a 19th century library to the title-pages and several text leaves. Pine-Coffin I, p154. small 8vo. for Richard Phillips. 1806. ~ Kotzebue (1761-1819) visited Canova’s studio, observing that “he wished the sculptor would bury a work that could be then “discovered by accident.” “No doubt it would be believed to be a work by Phidias,” he wrote, “and would lay to rest any criticisms about Canova’s talent.” He comments that ‘today in Rome the best Italian landscapist is Labruzzi. A pair of naturalistic views of Tivoli and the area are truly excellent’. He also provides good details of Italian carnivals and festivals. In his preface he makes "a list of those who are not to read this work - all artists: or judges of the arts, as they are termed: unless they find any pleasure in giving their shrugs of compassion every moment."