The Rudiments Of Genteel Behavior. Nivelon, Francois.

First edition of this scarce and influential manual "offering visual and verbal instruction on how to walk, stand, and present oneself for the minuet. Its engraved illustrations confirm that by that time graceful movements had become rigidly codified into prescriptive, static poses" (Meyer, p. 53). Among the illustrations is the hand-in-waistcoat gesture, which later became a signature stance of Napoleon. The work is divided into two sections: six plates and accompanying textual descriptions for ladies, and a further six for gentlemen. "The Rudiments of Genteel Behavior soon became a source for other works. Art historians have traced its use in the poses of figures within 18th-century conversation pieces and portraits" (Goff, p. 75), and the plates were reproduced in conduct manuals such as Matthew Towle's The Young Gentleman and Lady's Private Tutor (1770). James William Dodd, an actor of David Garrick's company, is known to have owned a copy. More recently, the work was displayed at the 2021 exhibition In Sparkling Company: Glass and the Costs of Social Life in Britain During the 1700s by the Corning Museum of Glass. The French dance master Francois Nivelon (fl.1723-1739), who was highly successful on the London circuit, published this work shortly before establishing a dancing school in Stamford, Lincolnshire. Though the title page is dated 1737, it was actually issued the following year; the delays were due to Nivelon's dissatisfaction with the engravings done by Hubert-François Gravelot, who was soon replaced by Louis Philippe Boitard. On 17 February 1755, the Public Advertiser noted an apparent second edition; however, no copies are extant, and it is likelier that this was in fact a reissue of the first edition. A small-format version, somewhat crudely engraved and newly depicting the figures in the latest fashion, was published in 1762 as The Polite Academy or School of Behaviour for Young Gentlemen and Ladies. Two copies of this work have appeared at auction, in 1984 and 1979. 10 copies have been traced institutionally in the UK, WorldCat bringing the total to 20 copies worldwide. ESTC T113093; Newberry Courtesy Books 1049. Moira Goff, "The Adroit and the Elegant Monsieur Nivelon", Dancing Master or Hop Merchant?: The Role of the Dance Teacher through the Ages, ed. by Barbara Segal, 2008; Arline Meyer, "Re-dressing Classical Statuary: The Eighteenth-Century 'Hand-in-Waistcoat' Portrait", Art Bulletin, vol. 77, no. 1, March 1995. Quarto (271 x 191 mm). Original sprinkled calf, neatly rebacked to style with floral device in compartments, red morocco label on front cover, floral gilt roll bordering covers, faint gilt roll on board edges. Copper-engraved cartouche title page and 12 engraved copper plates by Louis Philippe Boitard after Bartolomew Dandridge. Woodcut initials and head- and tailpieces in the text. Contemporary ownership inscription "Abe. Hay" on first blank, another early hand striking it through; front pastedown with bookplate of William Forbes Morgan Sr (1841-1916) noted American sportsman or Jr (1879-1937), engraved by William Phillips Barrett (1861-1938) of Bumpus in 1911, after a design by Robert Osmond (1874-1959). Slightly rubbed, with craquelure from the sprinkling, wear to extremities, reinforced inner hinges with slight splits, remaining sound, original front free endpaper reinserted, paper repair at fore margin of title page, foxing and offsetting from plates. A very good copy.