ST. PETERSBURG GALLERY RUSSIA 1760 MONDHARE ANTIQUE ORIGINAL OPTICAL VIEW ANTIQUE ORIGINAL OPTICAL VIEW OF ST. PETERSBURG GALLERY old times rare books and maps (20100) 100% positiveSeller's other itemsSeller's other itemsContact seller US $46.00 ST. PETERSBURG GALLERY RUSSIA 1760 MONDHARE ANTIQUE ORIGINAL OPTICAL VIEW Description Vue de la superbe Gallerie de Petersbourg suivant en Russie. Description: Striking and highly detailed fine unusual 1760 Louis-Joseph Mondhare's copper engraved so-called optical view of the interior of Saint Petersburg Gallery, Russia. Several inhabitants adorn the view. Reverse title at the top central side. The Vues d'optique were specifically developed to provide the illusion of depth when viewed through a zograscope, also known as an "optical diagonal machine" or viewers with similar functions. Date: 1760 ( undated ) Dimension: Paper size approx.: cm 45,4 x 32 Condition: Very strong and dark impression on good paper. Paper with chains. Plate old original colored. Marginal tears. Corners partially missing. Small foxing and browning. Conditions are as you can see in the images. Publisher: Louis-Joseph Mondhare (1734 - August 21, 1796) was a French engraver and publisher of maps, prints and vues d'optique active in the second half of the 18th century. Mondhare was born in Bougy (Calvados) and moved to Paris on or before 1759. He began publishing around 1760 under the Chez Mondhare imprint. On June 7 of 1784, his son-in-law Pierre Jean (1754-1829) joined the business and they changed their imprint to Mondhare & Jean. The Mondhare firm maintained their office in Paris on Rue St. Jacques, at the Hфtel Saumar, a well-known location for print sellers near St. Severin. Later they relocated to 32 Rue Saint-Jean de Beauvais. The firm ceased operation around 1796. Mondhare died shortly afterward in 1799. His name variantly appears on some imprints as Mondar or Mondhard.