Vitruvius Britannicus. - History Of Woburn Abbey: Illustrated By Plans, Elevations, And Internal Views Of The Apartments, From Actual Measurement. - By P.F. Robinson, Architect, F.S.A. And F.G.S. -

Peter Frederick Robinson

RA Collection: Book

Record number

06/4202

Author

Variant Title

History Of Woburn Abbey

Imprint

London:: Printed For The Author, And Published By J.And A. Arch, Cornhill; Longman And Co. Paternoster Row; Molteno And Co. Pall Mall; Priestley And Weale, High Street, Bloomsbury; Pickering, Chancery Lane; Rodwell, New Bond Street; And Williams, Charles Street, Soho. -, MDCCCXXXIII.

Physical Description

[2], 3, [1], 20 p., engr. dedic., [8] pl.; 580 mm. (Folio.)

General Note

Some copies lack the Prospectus and list of Subscribers (p. '3, [1]').

Contents

[T.p., engr. dedic.] - New Vitruvius Britannicus ... Prospectus ... (March 1, 1833) - Subscribers To The Vitruvius Britannicus - [Text] - [Plates].

Responsibility Note

Plates 2-4, 6, 8, are signed as drawn by J.G. Jackson; plates 5, 7 as drawn by J. Sanders and J.G. Jackson; pl. 1 as drawn by J.D. Harding. They are signed as engraved by W. Radclyffe, J. Le Keux, H. Le Keux, H. Moses or J. Roffe. The engraved dedication is unsigned.

Each plate, as well as the engraved dedication, carries the publisher's imprint of Jas. Carpenter (and the date of May 1827).

The headpiece is signed as designed by T. Willement and engraved by J. Roffe; the tailpiece, as engraved by J. Roffe.

The printer is named on the title-page verso: 'Printed By C. Whittingham, Chiswick.'

The work is dedicated by P.F. Robinson to John, Duke and Earl of Bedford.

References

Royal Institute of British Architects, British Architectural Library ... Early printed books, 3 (1999), no. 2819, p. 1674-5; M. Holmes, The country house described (1986), p. 275; J. Archer, The literature of British domestic architecture 1715-1842 (1985), no. 298.2

Summary Note

The work had first been published in 1827, as the first part of Robinson's series of monographs, 'Vitruvius Britannicus'; and the plates all carry the date of May 1827.

It describes Woburn Abbey, remodelled for the fourth duke of Bedford by Henry Flitcroft in 1747, and for the sixth Duke by Henry Holland in the 1780s. The text consists of 'History Of Woburn Abbey', 'General Catalogue Of The Paintings At Woburn Abbey' and 'General Catalogue Of The Marbles And Other Works In Sculpture At Woburn Abbey'.

The plates are unnumbered and are bound in in different order in different copies. In the Royal Academy's copy they are in the order: [1] a view of the house from the park; [2] 'The Library'; [3] 'The Portrait Gallery'; [4] 'The Sculpture Gallery'; [5] 'Plan Of The Principal Story'; [6] 'General Plan'; [7] 'Elevation Of The West Front'; [8] 'Exterior Of The Sculpture Gallery'. Six of the plates are pasted in. A headpiece to the 'History' shows the Bedford arms; a tailpiece to the 'General Catalogue Of The Marbles' shows 'The Bedford Vase'.

Provenance

The front pastedown carries the 19th-century armorial bookplate of 'Frances Mary Richardson Currer'.

Copy Note

The verso of the front loose endpaper is stamped, 'Bound By J. Mackenzie'.

Binding Note

19th-century half green morocco, marbled-papered boards; spine lettered 'Vitruvius Britannicus - Robinson.' Bound with two others.

Name as Subject

Subject

Architecture - Interior decoration - Country Houses - Great Britain - Bedfordshire - Woburn Abbey - History
Collections - Great Britain - 18th century - 19th century
Views - Plans - Elevations - Great Britain - 19th century
Pictorial works - Great Britain - 19th century

Contributors

Arthur Arch, publisher
John Arch, publisher
William Pickering, publisher
J. G. Jackson, draughtsman
John Sanders, draughtsman
James Duffield Harding, draughtsman
William Radclyffe, engraver
John Le Keux, engraver
Henry Moses, engraver
John Roffe, engraver
James Carpenter, publisher
Thomas Willement Junior, draughtsman
Charles Whittingham, printer
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford, dedicatee
Frances Mary Richardson Currer, previous owner
Henry Le Keux, engraver
John Mackenzie, binder
Henry Flitcroft, source artist
Henry Holland, source artist
John and Arthur Arch, publisher
Longman and Company (London), publisher
Molteno and Company (London), publisher
Priestley and Weale, publisher