Studio D'Architettura Civile sopra gli Ornamenti di Porte, e Finestre colle Misure, Piante, Modini, e Profili, tratte da alcune Fabbriche insigni di Firenze erette col disegno de' piu Celebri Architett. Opera misurata, disegnata, e intagliata da Ferdinando Ruggieri Architetto Sotto Gli Auspicj Dell'A.R. Di Cosimo III Granduca Di Toscana. Parte Prima. (-Terza.)
Firenze:: 1722. (1724. 1728.), Nella Stamperia Reale presso Gio: Gaetano Tartini, e Santi Franchi con Licenza de Superiori
Physical Description
3 vols.; 478 mm. (Folio.)
General Note
Vol. I: [6] p., t. pl., add. t. pl., 80 pl. (Some later issues include a fold. engr. map of Florence carrying the date 1731.) - Vol. II: [6] p., t. pl., add. t. pl., 80 pl. - Vol. III: [6] p., t. pl., add. t. pl., 77 pl. (nos. 1, 4, 5 double).
Contents
Vols. I-III follow the same format: [Add. engr. t.pl., engr. t.pl., dedic.] - Al Lettore - Catalogo Degli Architetti ... - [Plates]. - (In some copies the three cataloghi degli architetti are bound in together at the end of Part III.)
Responsibility Note
All plates (except Pt.I: 34; Pt. II: 6, 47, 48) are signed as drawn and engraved by Ruggieri. The added title plate (used in all three parts) is signed by Ruggieri as designer, B. S. Grilli as engraver and T. ver Kruys as engraver of figures. Plates 4 and 5 of Part II are signed by C. Mogalli as engraver of figures.
The parts are dedicated by Ruggieri to Cosimo III of Tuscany (Part I); Gio. Gastone I Granduca di Toscana (Part II); Anna Maria Luisa Elettrice Palatna. del Reno &c. nata Gran Principessa di Toscana (Part III).
References
Royal Institute of British Architects, British Architectural Library ... Early printed books, 3 (1999), no. 2877, p.1708-10.
An overview was Firenze e la sua immagine: cinque secoli di vedutismo, ed. M. Chiarini (1994).
Summary Note
Part II was published in 1724; Part III in 1728. (An expanded Scelta Di Architetture appeared in 1755.)
This survey is educative and celebratory of Florentine tradition in architecture - a local response to Domenico de' Rossi's book on Roman buildings published under the same title. Ruggieri may also have had in mind the views of Rome and Venice by Ferrerio, Falda and Visentini, or even Campbell's Vitruvius Britannicus. The book will also have served as a souvenir of Florence; and Pollak suggests that it may have influenced some window designs in Germany and Britain.
The works are arranged in ascending order of scale and difficulty. The principal architects whose work is shown are Ammanati, Buontalenti, Vasari, Da Cigoli, Bologna and Buonarotti. There are also plates showing buildings by D'Agnolo, Tasso, Dosio, Foggini, Nigetti, Zuccheri, Silvani, Carcini, Rafaello, Scamozzi, Brunelleschi, A. and G. Parigi, Tito and 'incerti'.
Provenance
Acquired by 1802. Recorded in A catalogue of the Library in the Royal Academy, London (1802), p. 15.
Binding Note
19th-century half calf; red morocco spine-labels, lettered, 'Studio D'Architettura Civile. Tom. I. (II. III.)', and 'R.A.' in gilt on spine.
Subject
Architecture, Italian - Italy - Tuscany - Florence - History
Pictorial works - Italy - 18th century