![ADAM, Robert (1728-1792) and James ADAM (1732-1794). The Works in Architecture. London: for the authors and sold by Peter Elmsly, 1778-1786 [vol. I, numbers 1-5 dated 1773-1778; vol. II, numbers 1-5 dated 1786].](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2015/CKS/2015_CKS_10457_0121_001(adam_robert_and_james_adam_the_works_in_architecture_london_for_the_au011345).jpg?w=1)
![ADAM, Robert (1728-1792) and James ADAM (1732-1794). The Works in Architecture. London: for the authors and sold by Peter Elmsly, 1778-1786 [vol. I, numbers 1-5 dated 1773-1778; vol. II, numbers 1-5 dated 1786].](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2015/CKS/2015_CKS_10457_0121_002(adam_robert_and_james_adam_the_works_in_architecture_london_for_the_au011413).jpg?w=1)
![ADAM, Robert (1728-1792) and James ADAM (1732-1794). The Works in Architecture. London: for the authors and sold by Peter Elmsly, 1778-1786 [vol. I, numbers 1-5 dated 1773-1778; vol. II, numbers 1-5 dated 1786].](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2015/CKS/2015_CKS_10457_0121_000(adam_robert_and_james_adam_the_works_in_architecture_london_for_the_au102354).jpg?w=1)
Details
ADAM, Robert (1728-1792) and James ADAM (1732-1794). The Works in Architecture. London: for the authors and sold by Peter Elmsly, 1778-1786 [vol. I, numbers 1-5 dated 1773-1778; vol. II, numbers 1-5 dated 1786].
10 parts in 2 volumes bound as one, large 2° (674 x 488mm). Engraved frontispiece by F. Bartolozzi after Antonio Zucchi, general titles and part titles in English and French. 80 engraved plates, 2 double-page and 8 hand-coloured, by G.B. Piranesi, Vivares, Rooker, Zucchi, Pastorini and others, after R. and J. Adam. (Some, mainly marginal browning and/or spotting.) Contemporary crimson morocco gilt by C. Kalthoeber, sides with a Greek style outer border enclosing a border of palmettes, flat gilt-tooled spine, gilt turn-ins, gilt marbled edges (extremities rubbed).
THE 'MOST BEAUTIFUL AND INNOVATIVE' BRITISH ARCHITECTURAL BOOK OF THE 18TH CENTURY' (Wiebenson Architectural); it was first published in 1778-1779. This edition contains the reissued original sheets of volume I and the page-for-page resetting of the letterpress in volume II. An edition in three volumes was published in 1822. The eight hand-coloured plates depict ceilings and ornaments. 'The most comprehensive presentation of stylistically unified designs ever published in Britain' states Wiebenson (Millard), 'it was seminal in popularizing neo-classical ideas of interior planning, the Adam Style of ornament, and in freeing English design from the Palladian's austere interpretation of the classical idiom.' Berlin Kat. 2341; Harris 6; RIBA I, 28; Wiebenson Millard Collection vol. II, pp.12-18; Wiebenson Architectural Theory and Practice III, D-34.
10 parts in 2 volumes bound as one, large 2° (674 x 488mm). Engraved frontispiece by F. Bartolozzi after Antonio Zucchi, general titles and part titles in English and French. 80 engraved plates, 2 double-page and 8 hand-coloured, by G.B. Piranesi, Vivares, Rooker, Zucchi, Pastorini and others, after R. and J. Adam. (Some, mainly marginal browning and/or spotting.) Contemporary crimson morocco gilt by C. Kalthoeber, sides with a Greek style outer border enclosing a border of palmettes, flat gilt-tooled spine, gilt turn-ins, gilt marbled edges (extremities rubbed).
THE 'MOST BEAUTIFUL AND INNOVATIVE' BRITISH ARCHITECTURAL BOOK OF THE 18TH CENTURY' (Wiebenson Architectural); it was first published in 1778-1779. This edition contains the reissued original sheets of volume I and the page-for-page resetting of the letterpress in volume II. An edition in three volumes was published in 1822. The eight hand-coloured plates depict ceilings and ornaments. 'The most comprehensive presentation of stylistically unified designs ever published in Britain' states Wiebenson (Millard), 'it was seminal in popularizing neo-classical ideas of interior planning, the Adam Style of ornament, and in freeing English design from the Palladian's austere interpretation of the classical idiom.' Berlin Kat. 2341; Harris 6; RIBA I, 28; Wiebenson Millard Collection vol. II, pp.12-18; Wiebenson Architectural Theory and Practice III, D-34.
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