[LORY]. LORY (Gabriel-Ludwig and Mathias-Gabriel). A picturesque journey to the glaciers of Chamouni. Paris, P. Didot l'aîné, 1815. In-folio, half green morocco binding, gilt title on spine, covers in antique hardback (rubbing, soiling to boards, corners crushed) (period binding). This is one of the finest and rarest early 19th century albums devoted to the Chamonix valley, published in folio format by Didot l'Aîné and illustrated with 7 aquatint-engraved views (uncoloured). The general picture of the Chamouni valley and the texts accompanying the views are by Jean-Frédéric Osterwald. There are only seven plates engraved in aquatint, but they are magnificent views of the Chamonix valley and Mont-Blanc, very well done: the Nant d'Arpenas waterfall; Mont-Blanc, from St-Martin; the Lac de Chêde; the Glacier des Bois and the Source de l'Arveyron; the Mer de Glace, from Montenvers; Mont-Blanc, from Couvercle; view from La Flégère. Ex-libris Marcel Dunan pasted on the flyleaf. The engravings are in very good condition, with no foxing. Gabriel Ludwig Lory (Bern 1763 - 1840), landscape painter, was a pupil of Johann Ludwig Aberli and Caspar Wolf. He settled in Bern and produced numerous watercolour etchings in his studio. Mathias Gabriel Lory (Bern 1784 - 1846) trained mainly alongside his father, but also benefited from the advice of the landscape painter Maximilien de Meuron in Neuchâtel. He then divided his time between Bern and Neuchâtel, with periods in Berlin (where he taught drawing) and Nice (for health reasons). His style is fairly close to that of his father (sometimes a work cannot be attributed with certainty), but his depiction of landscape is more realistic. He is considered one of the best painters of the Alps between Maximilien de Meuron and Alexandre Calame. The Lory studio produced a large number of prints sold throughout Europe (see Conrad de Mandach: Deux peintres suisses: Gabriel Lory le père et Gabriel Lory le fils). Perret, 2695 - Regards sur les Alpes 36 - Lonchamp pp. 211-212 - Nava S/1