An Essay On The Roman Villas Of The Augustan Age, Their Architectural Disposition And Enrichments; And On The Remains Of Roman Domestic Edifices Discovered In Great Britain. By Thomas Moule.
The frontispiece is signed as drawn by T. Willement and engraved by E. Challis; the Preface states that it is drawn from 'Pittura d'Ercolano'. The plate is signed as drawn by 'S.B.M.' and engraved by 'E.C.' ; the Preface states that it is copied from an edition of Vitruvius published at Venice in 1511 [i.e. Giocondo's edition]. The two in-text illustrations are unsigned (the first is annotated as derived from Gell's 'Pompeiana', 2nd. series [1830-2]).
The printer is named on the title-page verso and in the colophon: 'Printed By Richard Taylor, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street.'
The work is dedicated by the author 'To Michael Jones, Esq., Fellow Of The Society Of Antiquaries'.
References
RIBA, Early printed, 3 (1999), no. 2212, p.1193.
Summary Note
The author does not limit himself strictly to the reign of Augustus (31 B.C. - 14 A.D.), but in his Preface acknowledges his indebtedness to Vitruvius, books on Pompeii and a book on the palace of Scaurus [i.e. Mazois's 'Le Palais du Scaurus' (1819)].
The frontispiece shows 'Roman Furniture &c.'; the plate, 'Plan of a Roman House according to Vitruvius'. The first in-text illustration shows a 'Natatio, or Swimming Bath, discovered at Pompeii'; the second, a lyre. The colophon includes printer Richard Taylor's device (a lamp with his initials, 'RT', and motto, 'Alere Flammam').
Provenance
The front loose endpaper is inscribed in ink, 'Thomas Willement Davington Priory 1846.'
Binding Note
19th-century brown cloth-covered boards, upper and lower covers having blind-stamped strapwork decoration; spine lettered 'Moule's Roman Villas' and 'R.A.'
Subject
Architecture, Roman - Villas, Roman - Country houses - Houses - Italy - Rome - Pompeii (extinct city) - Great Britain - History - 1st century
Art history - Essays - Great Britain - 19th century