Details
FONTANA, Domenico (1543-1607). Della Transportatione dell' Obelisco Vaticano. Rome: Domenico Basa, 1590.
2° (408 x 270mm). Engraved title, portrait of Fontana and 38 plates by Natali Bonifazio da Sebenico, 2 double-page, 1 folding, 3 diagrams in the text. (Neat repairs to lower outer corners of leaves to P6 just touching the engraved margins of three plates , some light worming to upper blank margins occasionally neatly repaired.) Old limp vellum (head and foot of spine and corners neatly repaired, modern endpapers.
FIRST EDITION OF THIS IMPORTANT WORK. Fontana organised and directed this successful attampt to erect the Vatican obelisk. No fewer than 900 men, 150 horses and 47 cranes were required. The task took four and a half months to complete (from 30 April to 10 September 1586. The plates "are important examples in the development of architectural drawing" (Fowler), and are considered by Olschki to be "remarquables au point de vue artistique autant que technique". The Fowler copy includes two additional half-page plates on a single leaf, dated 1591, of a catafalque designed by Fontana, giving a plate total of 40. Both Olschki and Cicognara list 38 plates. Brunet II, 1329; Cicognara 3736; Fowler 124; Olschki 16955.
2° (408 x 270mm). Engraved title, portrait of Fontana and 38 plates by Natali Bonifazio da Sebenico, 2 double-page, 1 folding, 3 diagrams in the text. (Neat repairs to lower outer corners of leaves to P6 just touching the engraved margins of three plates , some light worming to upper blank margins occasionally neatly repaired.) Old limp vellum (head and foot of spine and corners neatly repaired, modern endpapers.
FIRST EDITION OF THIS IMPORTANT WORK. Fontana organised and directed this successful attampt to erect the Vatican obelisk. No fewer than 900 men, 150 horses and 47 cranes were required. The task took four and a half months to complete (from 30 April to 10 September 1586. The plates "are important examples in the development of architectural drawing" (Fowler), and are considered by Olschki to be "remarquables au point de vue artistique autant que technique". The Fowler copy includes two additional half-page plates on a single leaf, dated 1591, of a catafalque designed by Fontana, giving a plate total of 40. Both Olschki and Cicognara list 38 plates. Brunet II, 1329; Cicognara 3736; Fowler 124; Olschki 16955.