Le Fabbriche E I Disegni Di Andrea Palladio Raccolti Ed Illustrati Da Ottavio Bertotti Scamozzi. Opera Divisa In Quattro Tomi Con Tavole In Rame Rappresentanti Le Piante, I Prospetti, E Gli Spaccati. Tomo Primo. (- Quarto.)
In Vicenza: MDCCLXXXVI., Per Giovanni Rossi. Con Licenza De' Superiori.
Physical Description
4 vols. in 2; 489 mm. (Folio.)
General Note
Vol. I: 80 p., frontis. (port.), 52, [1] pl. (11 dble.). The unnumbered pl. is headed 'Pag: 25' and inserted before p.25. - Vol. II: 58 p., 51 pl. (8 dble.). - Vol. III: 53, [1] p., 52 [i.e. 50]pl. (7 dble.). The pairs of pl. numbered 32/33 and 35/36 are each printed from a single copper. - Vol. IV: 70 p., 54 pl. (8 dble.). Pl. 39 is misnumbered 29.
The portrait of Palladio is signed as drawn by D. Rossi and engraved by Ravenet. Plates are signed as drawn by G. Vichi, D. Rossi and G. Testolini, and as engraved by Vichi, Rossi, Testolini, C. dell'Acqua, P. Santini and S. Giampiccoli.
The fourth volume is dedicated by Bertotti Scamozzi to Baldassare Odescalchi, Duca di Ceri.
References
G. E. Ferrari, 'La raccolta palladiana e collaterale di Guglielmo Cappelletti', in Bollettino del Centro Internazionale di Studi di Architettura Andrea Palladio, XXIV (1982-1987); L. Puppi, 'Bibliografia e letteratura palladiana', in Mostra del Palladio: Vicenza, Basilica Palladiana (1973), p.173-190; L. Olivato, Ottavio Bertotti Scamozzi, studioso di A. Palladio (1975); F. Babieri, Illuministi e neoclassici a Vicenza (1972), p. 59-69.
Summary Note
This is an investigation of discrepancies between designs published in Palladio's Quattro libri and his realised buildings. It is an attempt to define a 'pure' Palladio; and was partly prompted by the known admiration for Palladio among the British. Bertotti had close contact with British visitors to Vicenza and with Peter Edwards (professor of painting at the Accademia del Disegno) and British expatriates at Venice.
The first edition of the work had been published in 1776-1783 in Italian, in French (Les Batimens Et Les Desseins De André Palladio), and as an Italian-French diglot. This second edition was also simultaneously published in Italian and French editions, without ornaments and in a smaller type-face. (The 1796 reprints in French and Italian have both type and plates in reduced size.)
The plates show plans, elevations, sections and architectural details.
Provenance
Purchased from Francesco Sastres for £5 5s. (including a copy of Le terme dei Romani) on 19 April 1788 (see Sastres' invoice of that date 'for books sent to Mr. Wilton for the Royal Academy').
Binding Note
Late 18th-century mottled calf; bound for the Royal Academy by John Miller in 1788 (see his bill for £2 4s. dated 13 July 1788); rebacked in 1996 retaining original red and green morocco labels lettered 'Palladio' and 'Tom. I & II' (III & IV)'; 'R.A.' gilt-stamped on spine. Bound (as usual) with Bertotti Scamozzi's Le terme dei Romani disegnate da Andrea Palladio e ripubblicate (1785) following vol. 4. .
Architecture, Italian - Architecture details - Italy - Veneto - History - 16th century
Art history - Plans - Elevations - Sections - Italy - 18th century
Pictorial works - Italy - 18th century