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Adam Piliński was a Polish engraver whose contributions to the art of reproduction and book restoration earned him recognition as a leading figure in 19th-century engraving and lithography. 

The son of Jean Piliński and Anna Zagorska, Adam received his education at the prestigious Pulawy Institute under the patronage of Princess Czartoryska. In 1828, Prince Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski facilitated his admission to the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, where he honed his artistic talents.

The failed November Uprising of 1830 forced Piliński into exile in France in 1832. Settling first in Marseille, he learned lithography before relocating to Clermont-Ferrand, where he worked as a draftsman for a surveyor.  

Recommended by Princess Adélaïde and supported by Henri Lecoq and M. Brosson, Piliński secured a position as an engraver at the Museum of French History at the Château de Versailles. After returning to Clermont-Ferrand in 1844, he established a thriving lithographic studio specializing in artistic and commercial prints. His innovation extended to creating decorated notebooks for classical studies, a project that prompted him to refine his printing techniques. This endeavor brought him back to Paris in 1853.

In Paris, Piliński collaborated with Charles Capé and gained the favor of prominent bibliophiles, including the Duke of Aumale, Ambroise Firmin Didot, and Joseph Techener. He excelled in restoring incomplete books through meticulous reproductions, producing facsimiles of works such as Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, Leonardo da Vinci's studies of horses, and Joinville's Credo. His techniques, collectively known as the "Pilinski process" or homéographie, involved copper and steel engravings, pen and ink drawings, and precise reproductions. These methods also benefited academic institutions like the École des Chartes. 

Adam Piliński's mastery earned him admiration in his field. Henri Trianon, in Carnet d'un curieux (1870), lauded him as "the prince of book restoration," highlighting his transformation of counterfeit reproduction into a form of artistic excellence. Piliński's pioneering work bridged art and utility, enriching the preservation of historical texts and illustrations. 

Place/Date:
Paris / 1865
Size:
28.75 x 9 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
105769