Templum Vaticanum et ipsius origo (second title identical in Italian).

Rome, G. F Buagni, 1694.

Large folio [440 x 313 mm] of (16) ll., 489 pp., (28) pp., 79 engravings in the text, including 69 full-page and 10 folded.

" Roman binding of c. 1800, probably by the Vatican Bindery, for presentation of Paul I, Czar of Russia : bottle-green straight-grained morocco richly gilt, multiple roll-tooled borders round sides, including a vine border and a border composed of flowers on cured stems, the latter interspersed with a tool of a bearded triton's head ; inner fan-shaped cornerpieces, in centers the large Russian Imperial arms on an ermine mantle ; five raised bands on spine, in the second compartment a light-brown morocco lettering piece, the others closely gilt with a variety of rolls ; marbled liners and endleaves, gilt edges. " (Martin Breslauer).

First edition.

The engineer and architect Carlos Fontana (1634 or 1638-1714) took part in the revolutionary cycle of Baroque Rome that ended under Alexander VII and worked for pope Innocent XI. Still famous for his buildings in Rome (the façade of San Marcello al Corso, the Grimani and Bolognetti palaces), for the villa Chigi in Cetinale, and for the plans he drew up for the Borromeo palace on the Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore he enjoyed great renown in his time and counted Johan Fischer von Erlach (1656-1723) among his disciples.

Bilingual text, Latin-Italian.

The work is illustrated with 79 superb plates, including a portrait, 69 full-page and 10 folded, interpreted by Alessandro Specchi after the author's drawings.

The spectacular engravings in book III, dedicated to the obelisk, are copied from those of Domenico Fontana (1543-1607), his grandfather.

" Spendidly bound imperial copy of the first edition of the Fundamental early history of St. Peter's ; this is the finest copy we have ever encountered of a work usually disfigured by heavy discoloration. Fontana not only describes the foremost basilica of Christendom as extant in his day, but traces its development from the Constantinian church, devoting much space especially to the complicated history during the Renaissance including, of course, the celebrated projects by Bramante, Michelangelo and Sangallo ; naturally there is also an entire book devoted to the moving of the Vatican obelisk by his distant ancestor, Domenico Fontana, with plates closely modelled on those in Domenico's famous account of the operation published in 1590 ; the final book describes a number of building with lesser, but comparable domes. The extremely fine plates, among the best architectural illustrations of the period, were engraved by Alessandro Specchi after Fontana's designs ; especially the sections and plans printed from several plates are an impressive achievement.

The binding was most probably executed by the Vatican Bindery which owned several versions of the tool of a large flower on a curved stem as well as a number of tools of Medusa's and tritons' heads (cf. Legature Papali, Plates CXCIB-CXCIX) ; the rather delicately cut version used on our binding is also found on an undoubtedly Roman presentation binding described and reproduced by Morazzoni, Rilgeatura Piemontese nel 700, n°91 & Plate LI. Apart from some completely insignificant abrasions, as can be expected in a binding of this size, it is in brilliant state. – Schudt 1012 ; Berlin Catalogue 2678 ; Cicognara 3731 ; Fowler 122. " Martin Breslauer.

Superb volume sold for US$45,000 in 1982, 40 years ago.

Français :

Rome, G. F Buagni, 1694.

Grand in-folio de (16) ff., 489 pp., (28) pp., 79 gravures dans le texte dont 69 à pleine page et 10 dépliantes.

" Roman binding of c. 1800, probably by the Vatican Bindery, for presentation of Paul I, Czar of Russia : bottle-green straight-grained morocco richly gilt, multiple roll-tooled borders round sides, including a vine border and a border composed of flowers on cured stems, the latter interspersed with a tool of a bearded triton's head ; inner fan-shaped cornerpieces, in centers the large Russian Imperial arms on an ermine mantle ; five raised bands on spine, in the second compartment a light-brown morocco lettering piece, the others closely gilt with a variety of rolls ; marbled liners and endleaves, gilt edges. " (Martin Breslauer).

440 x 313 mm.

Édition originale.

Participant au cycle révolutionnaire de la Rome baroque qui s'acheva sous Alexandre VII, l'ingénieur et architecte, Carlos Fontana (1634 ou 1638-1714) travailla pour le pape Innocent XI. Resté célèbre pour ses constructions à Rome (façade de San Marcello al Corso, palais Grimani et Bolognetti), pour la villa Chigi, à Cetinale, et pour les plans qu'il dressait du palais Borromée sur l'Isola Bella du lac Majeur, il bénéficia à son époque d'une grande renommée et compta Johan Fischer von Erlach (1656-1723) parmi ses disciples.

Texte bilingue, latin-italien.

L'ouvrage est orné de 79 superbes planches, dont un portrait, 69 à pleine page et 10 repliées, interprétées par Alessandro Specchi d'après les dessins de l'auteur.

Les gravures spectaculaires du livre III, consacrées à l'obélisque, sont copiées sur celles de Domenico Fontana (1543-1607), son grand-père.

" Splendidly bound imperial copy of the first edition of the Fundamental early history of St. Peter's ; this is the finest copy we have ever encountered of a work usually disfigured by heavy discoloration. Fontana not only describes the foremost basilica of Christendom as extant in his day, but traces its development from the Constantinian church, devoting much space especially to the complicated history during the Renaissance including, of course, the celebrated projects by Bramante, Michelangelo and Sangallo ; naturally there is also an entire book devoted to the moving of the Vatican obelisk by his distant ancestor, Domenico Fontana, with plates closely modelled on those in Domenico's famous account of the operation published in 1590 ; the final book describes a number of building with lesser, but comparable domes. The extremely fine plates, among the best architectural illustrations of the period, were engraved by Alessandro Specchi after Fontana's designs ; especially the sections and plans printed from several plates are an impressive achievement.

The binding was most probably executed by the Vatican Bindery which owned several versions of the tool of a large flower on a curved stem as well as a number of tools of Medusa's and tritons' heads (cf. Legature Papali, Plates CXCIB-CXCIX) ; the rather delicately cut version used on our binding is also found on an undoubtedly Roman presentation binding described and reproduced by Morazzoni, Rilgeatura Piemontese nel 700, n°91 & Plate LI. Apart from some completely insignificant abrasions, as can be expected in a binding of this size, it is in brilliant state. – Schudt 1012 ; Berlin Catalogue 2678 ; Cicognara 3731 ; Fowler 122. " Martin Breslauer.

Superbe volume vendu $ 45 000 en 1982, il y a 40 ans.