The Plans, Elevations and Sections, Of Holkham In Norfolk, The Seat of the late Earl of Leicester. To which are added. The Ceilings and Chimney-Pieces; And Also A Descriptive Account of the Statues, Pictures and Drawings; Not in the former Edition. By Matthew Brettingham, Architect.
London:: Printed by T. Spilsbury, in Cooke's Court, Carey-Street, near Licoln's Inn; And Sold by B. White, in Fleet-Street, and S. Leacroft, at Charing-Cross., MDCCLXXIII.
Physical Description
x, 24 p., [70] pl. (8 dble.); 527 mm. (Broadsheet).
General Note
Some of the [70] plates carry engraved numbers: [15-21] are numbered 19-24 and 'after pl. 24'; [23, 24] are numbered 26, 27; [32-43] are numbered 32-43; [46-54] are numbered 46-54; [55] is numbered 54; [56-58] are numbered 56-58; [59-68] are numbered 58-67; [69] is numbered 67; [70] is numbered 69.
Contents
[T.-p., dedic.] - Preface - Explanation - Al Lettore [description of plates in Italian] - [Plates].
Responsibility Note
Several plates are signed by 'M. Brettingham Archt.'; two are signed as drawn by James Miller; some carry the name of a source artist (Desgodetz, Palladio, Inigo Jones, William Kent [9 pl.], Ld. Burlington [2 pl.]). Most are signed by their engravers: T. Miller, E. Rooker, A. Walker, P. Mazell, T. Morris, P. Columbani, C. White, J. Roberts, J. Vitalba, R. Baldwin.
The publication is dedicated to Margaret, Countess Dowager of Leiceseter, by Brettingham Junior.
References
National Gallery (Washington), Mark J. Millard Architectural, II (1998), 8; Royal Institute of British Architects, British Architectural Library ... Early printed books, 1 (1994), no. 373, p.206-7; E. Harris and N. Savage, British architectural books (1990), 48; J. Archer, Literature of British domestic architecture, 21. C. Hiskey, 'The building of Holkham Hall: newly discovered letters', in Architectural history, 40 (1997), p.144-58.
The context is described in J. Scott, The pleasures of antiquity: British collectors of Greece and Rome (2003).
A study of British country-house guide-books was J. Harris, 'English country house guides, 1740-1840', in Concerning architecture, ed. J. Summerson (1958), p. 58-74.
ESTC, T85980
Summary Note
Matthew Brettingham, Senior, had been in charge of the building of Holkham from 1734, and had published The Plans, Elevations and Sections, Of Holkham in Norfolk in 1761. There he omitted to mention that its original designs had been drawn up by William Kent under the supervision of Leicester and Burlington. In this edition Brettingham Junior acknowledges in his Preface the part played by Kent in the building of the house. This edition omits two plates of the 1761 edition but adds many new plates.
In his 'Explanation' Brettingham Junior describes chiefly the ancient sculpture which he himself had collected for Lord Leicester in Rome between 1747 and 1754.
Provenance
Acquired by 1802. Recorded in Catalogue Of The Library In The Royal Academy, London (1802).
Binding Note
20th-century half morocco, brown cloth-covered boards; spine lettered, 'Plans Of Holkham - Brettingham R.A. 1773'.
Holkham Hall (Norfolk) - Architecture, British - Country houses, British - Great Britain - Norfolk - History - 18th century - Palladian
Sculpture, Roman - Sculpture, Greek
Collections - Great Britain - Norfolk - 18th century
Plans - Elevations - Sections - Great Britain - 18th century
Pictorial works - Great Britain - 18th century