Artwork
Bookplate: Leander McBride
Bookplate: Leander McBride is a print by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1760 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1920.1374
- Credit line
- Gift of Arthur D. Brooks
About this work
Around the book is a wreath of leaves, two torches on either side, and a banner with the words "ECKEDGER LIBRIS.
This image is a black-and-white bookplate. At the center sits a closed book with "1760" and "LEANDER MCBRIDE" on it. Around the book is a wreath of leaves, two torches on either side, and a banner with the words "ECKEDGER LIBRIS."
The name "Libris" means "books" in Latin, and the whole design looks like a fancy bookmark or ownership stamp. The torches and wreath suggest knowledge and honor.
Check out The Cleveland Museum of Art to see more prints like this one.
Overview
This black‑and‑white bookplate presents a stylized composition centered on a closed volume bearing the date 1760 and the name LEANDER MCBRIDE. The book is encircled by a leafy wreath, flanked by a pair of torches, and topped with a banner inscribed “ECKEDGER LIBRIS.” The design functions as a personal ownership label, typical of 18th‑century private libraries.
Subject & Meaning
The central book signifies the owner’s collection, while the Latin term “LIBRIS” (books) clarifies the object’s purpose. The surrounding wreath evokes classical notions of honor and achievement, and the twin torches symbolize enlightenment and the pursuit of knowledge, reinforcing the intellectual identity of the proprietor.
Technique & Style
Executed as a print, the plate relies on line work and contrast to render the intricate foliage, torch flames, and lettering without color. The composition follows neoclassical conventions, employing symmetrical arrangement and ornamental motifs common to eighteenth‑century bookplates.
History & Provenance
Dated 1760, the plate bears the name of Leander McBride, suggesting it was created for his personal library. The inclusion of “ECKEDGER” may refer to a place, publisher, or workshop associated with the design, though specific archival records remain scarce.
Artist & collection
