Vol. I: xxiv, ciii, [i] p.; [13] illus. - Vol. II: [viii], 368, [2] p., 208 pl.; [5] illus. The number of sheets on which the numbered plates are carried varies from copy to copy. In the Royal Academy's copy they are carried on 68 sheets (58 double). (In the RIBA copy they are catalogued as carried on 107 sheets (20 double); in the Mark J. Millard Collection copy as carried on 67 sheets (60 double).) In some copies the numbered plates are bound into Volume I. In many copies plate 180 is bound in as a frontispiece - but some copies (later issues?) have a frontispiece portrait of Winckelmann.
Contents
Vol. 1: [Half-t., t.p., dedic.] - Indicazione De' Rami Frapposti Nell' Opera [description of 18 headpieces & tailpieces in vols 1,2] - Prefazione - Trattato Preliminare Dell' Arte Del Disegno Degli Antichi Popoli. - Vol. 2: [Half-t., t.p.] - Argomenti De' Monumenti Antichi - [Text: 1. Mitologia Sacra (Deità in generale, in particolare); 2. Mitologia Storica (Anteriore alla guerra di Troia; Guerra di Troia); 3. Storia Greca e Romana; 4. Riti, costumi ed arti]. - Indici [de' libri citati, degli autori corretti, delle materie, de' monumenti allegati]; [colophon] - Correzione Degli Errori; Imprimatur - [Plates 1-208].
Responsibility Note
No credits are given with the plates - except plate 180 (depicting the celebrated bas-relief of Antinous holding a garland), which names N. Mosman as draughtsman and N. Mogalli as engraver.
The printer's name, Marco Pagliarini, is found in the colophon.
The work, published at his own expense, is dedicated by Winckelmann to his patron, Cardinal Alessandro Albani.
References
Royal Institute of British Architects, British Architectural Library ... Early printed books, 4 (2001), no. 3688; National Gallery (Washington), Mark J. Millard Architectural, IV (2000), no.164, p.505-7.
E. Pommier, ed., Winckelmann: la naissance de l'histoire de l'art (1991).
Summary Note
This, the last work published by Winckelmann before his death in 1768, is among his descriptive, rather than his theoretic works. It is a detailed account, with indices and bibliographic references, of ancient Greek and Roman bas-reliefs, sculptures, vases, gems and frescoes, surviving in Rome - several of them at the Villa Albani, where Winckelmann had worked as Cardinal Albani's librarian since 1758. Although not as influential as his Geschichte der Kunst des Altherthums (1764), it went through several editions and translations. After his death it was reissued in Rome by G. Salomoni; a German translation appeared in 1792; a French one in 1808; a revised Italian version in 1821.
Reproductions
A facsimile was published in 1967 in J.J. Winckelmann, Kunsttheoretische Schriften, VII, VIII (Baden-Baden: Heitz).
Provenance
Acquired by 1802. Recorded in A Catalogue Of The Library In The Royal Academy, London (1802).
Copy Note
The two volumes are bound as one. Imperfect; wanting half-titles and plate 180. Two copies of the leaf carrying plates 131-133 have been bound in. The leaf carrying plates 157, 158 bears an unidentified hand-print.
Binding Note
18th-century mottled calf, with royal arms of Britain gilt-stamped on upper cover; rebacked, with red morocco spine-label, lettered, 'Winckelmann Monumenti Antichi Inediti'.
Art, Greek - Art, Roman - Antiquities, Greek - Antiquities, Roman - Sculpture, Greek - Sculpture, Roman - Decorative arts - Italy - Rome - History
Mythology, Greek - Iconography
Collections - Italy - Rome - 18th century
Art history - Italy - 18th century
Pictorial works - Italy - 18th century
Armorial bindings - Great Britain - 18th century