In Brescia: Per Pietro Vescovi, MD CCLXXVIII. Con Licenza De Superiori.
Physical Description
ii-viii, 163, [5] p., t.pl., 12 pl. (fold.): illus.; 340 mm. (Quarto.)
Responsibility Note
All numbered plates are signed as drawn by Ab. Gasparo Turbini Archit., and as engraved by Pietro Beceni.
The title-plate vignette is signed as engraved by Beceni. The headpieces of chapters 1, 3-6, are signed as drawn by F[rances]co Battaglioli and engraved by F[rances]co Zucchi. Other headpieces, tailpieces and decorated initials are unsigned.
The work is dedicated by Baldassare Zamponi to the 'Deputati Pubblici Della Città Di Brescia.'
References
RIBA, Early printed books, 4 (2001), no. 3737.
Summary Note
The publication-date of 1778 given on the title-plate occurs also with engraver Pietro Beceni's signature on plate XII.
The greater part of the text is a description of the Palazzo della Loggia in Brescia, begun in 1492 and completed in 1572 by L. Beretta with the assistance of Titian, Sansovino, G. Alessi, Palladio and G.A. Rusconi, burnt down in 1575, and re-designed by L. Vanvitelli in 1775. Other sections describe the Palazzo di Broletto, Nuova Piazza and the Cattedrale.
The appendix reprints documents and letters by Sansovino, Alessi, Palladio, Rusconi, Titian, Todeschini, Vanvitelli, A. Covo, D.L. Buzzi, D.P.M. Bagnatore and P.D.L. Binago.
Most plates are captioned. They show plans, elevations and sections of the Palazzo della Loggia. All include a scale-bar in bracci bresciani.
Reproductions
An anastatic reprint was published in 1975 ([Bologna:] A. Forni).
Provenance
Purchased for RA Library in 1871 (see 'Library Report for the Year 1871', RA Annual Report, Appendix No. 7, p. 27).
Copy Note
Pages 57-8 have been misbound between pages 62-3.
Binding Note
19th-century half calf, marbled-papered boards; gilt-decorated spine, red morocco spine-label lettered 'Le Pubbliche Fabbriche Di Brescia - Zamboni', spine lettered 'R.A.' and 'Brescia. 1778'.