Ovidius: Ars Amatoria (Ovid: the Art of Love) - Portfolio of lithographs

Federico Righi

As translated by Rolfe Humphries in 1955, Ovid's Ars amatoria is illustrated with 27 color lithographs in this complete elephant folio, with original red-tinted cover wraps. 211 unbound pages with text; plate 1 signed lower right, pencil; justification signed in pencil.

Ancient Roman poet Ovid's 2 BC Ars Amatoria, or the Art of Love is an instructional guide to finding a partner, published in three volumes. Book one was to show a man how to find a woman; book two instructs him in how to maintain a happy marriage, and book three was the same for women looking for a partner. The advice ranges from the basic rules of regard (not forgetting birthdays, spending time apart--but not too much), to ideas that Chistianity later deemed unseemly (suggesting that women try partners of varying ages before settling; advocation of mutual sexual fulfillment).