Studio D'Architettura Civile sopra gli Ornamenti di Porte e Finestre tratti da alcune Fabbriche insigni di Roma con le misure Piante Modini, e Profili Opera De Piu Celebri Architetti De Nostri Tempi Publicata Sotto Gl'Auspicij Della Sta. Di N.S. Papa Clemente XI. Da Domenico de Rossi erede di Gio: Giac: de Rossi in Roma alla Pace con Privil. del Sommo Pont. e licenza de Sup. L'Anno M.DCCII. Parte Prima
RA Collection: Book
Record number
06/2206
Imprint
Physical Description
143 f. (of which nos 3, 143 carry letter-press text, and the rest are plates incl. t.pl. and engr. dedic.); 465 mm. (Broadsheet.)
General Note
Several plates are folded, viz. 9, 15-20, 31, 43, 63-5, 71, 98, 108.
Contents
[T.pl., engr. dedic.] - A Gli Amatori Delle Belle Arti Domenico De Rossi - [Plates] - Catalogo Degl'Architetti, E dell'Opere loro contenute in questo Volume Primo.
Responsibility Note
Plates 1(title-plate), 27 and 68 are unsigned. Most others are signed by both draughtsman and engraver. Draughtsmen were Alessandro Specchi or Carlo Quadri; engravers were Alessandro Specchi, Antonio Barbey, Francesco Bartoli, Carlo Al(l)et or Pietro Santi Bartoli. The engraved dedication is signed as drawn and engraved by Alessandro Specchi, with the script engraved by Barbey.
Almost all plates carry the publisher's imprint of Domenico de' Rossi.
References
National Gallery of Art (Washington), Mark J. Millard Architectural, IV (2000), no.110, p.345-51.
F. Consagra, 'De Rossi and Falda', in The craft of art, ed. A. Ladis and C. Wood (1995), p.187-203; S. Ciofetta, 'Lo Studio d'architettura civile edito da Domenico de Rossi (1702, 1711, 1721', in In urbe architectus, ed. B. Contardi (1992), p.214-28; A. Gomme, 'Smith and Rossi' in Architectural history, 35 (1992), p.183-8; F. Haskell, The painful birth of the art book (1988), p.8-16; G. Morolli, 'Un saggio di editoria barocca: i rapporti Ferri-De Rossi-Specchi', in Gian Lorenzo Bernini e le arti visive, ed. M. Fagiolo (1987), p.209-40.
Summary Note
A second part was published in 1711 (on chapels and tombs), and a third in 1721 (on churches, chapels, the palazzo at Caprarola and other buildings). These two later parts owe much to G.G. de Rossi's Insignium Romae Templorum Prospectus (1684) and Disegni Di Vari E Capelle Nelle Chiese Di Roma (ca. 1690); but this first part, with its details of windows and doors, was something of a novelty, possibly reflecting teaching concerns of the Roman schools of architecture. It became widely known, and may well have influenced projects in Britain such as Thomas Archer's work for the Duke of Shrewsbury and Francis Smith's designs for country houses.
The plates show structures in chronologic order, with an emphasis on sections and mouldings. The images are all scaled. The architects represented with most images are Michelangelo, Borromini, Bernini and G.A. de Rossi; others included are Antonio da Sangallo, Raphael, Cortona, G. Fontana, C. Fontana, A. Labacco, C. Arcucci, N. Sebregundio, G.M. Baratta, Baciccio, G.B. Crescenti, Domenichino, O. Furiani, C. Rainaldi and Matt. de Rossi.
The text of Rossi's address 'A Gli Amatori Delle Belle Arti' includes a list of his firm's publications, updating the 1700 Indice delle stampe.
Provenance
With the armorial bookplate of 'Thomas Anson Esqre. Shugborough' loosely inserted. Bequeathed from the Library of Sir Edwin Cooper, R.A., 1961.
Copy Note
Between leaf 118 and 119 is loosely inserted a sheet of paper carrying on one side a few numbers in ink and on both sides architectural drawings in pencil.
Binding Note
20th-century half calf, brown cloth-covered boards; spine lettered 'Studio D'Architettura Civile', 'De Rossi' and '1702'.