PALLADIO, Andrea (1518-1580). I quattro libri dell' architettura. Venice: Domenico de' Franceschi, 1570.
PALLADIO, Andrea (1518-1580). I quattro libri dell' architettura. Venice: Domenico de' Franceschi, 1570.

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PALLADIO, Andrea (1518-1580). I quattro libri dell' architettura. Venice: Domenico de' Franceschi, 1570.

4 parts in one volume, 2° (293 x 195mm). With the final blank. Title and three section-titles each within woodcut architectural border, printer's device above colophon, 221 woodcut illustrations some of which full- or double-page, by Giovanni and Cristoforo Chrieger, Cristoforo Coriolano and others, after Andrea Palladio. (Title with very faint offsetting and a small spot in the margin, small wormtrack in the margin of a few gatherings in Book IV, repaired in a few leaves at an early date, occasional minor staining, a few signatures just shaved.) 18th-century morocco, sides with triple fillet frame, spine gilt in compartments, marbled endpapers, edges marbled and gilt, (sides lightly mottled, upper side with a few small punctures and small surface abrasion, extremities lightly rubbed); modern russet morocco-backed case. Provenance: Thomas Maitland, Lord Dundrennan (1792-1851; bookplate).

THE DUNDRENNAN COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL RENAISSANCE WORK ON ARCHITECTURE. 'Palladio's lasting influence on architectural style in many parts of the world was exercised less through his actual buildings than through his textbook. This is divided into four sections: orders and elementary problems, domestic building, public building and town planning and temples' (PMM). Palladio's work saw no less than 50 editions in the century that followed this first edition. 'I quattro libri was used extensively by architects, builders and teachers, but also by visitors to Rome as a kind of architectural guidebook' -- Inigo Jones, on his trip to Rome in 1613 and 1614 annotated and used a copy in this way (RIBA). Palladio's influence in the United States can be seen in Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, Jefferson's designs for the University of Virginia, and numerous governmental buildings and mansions. Thomas Maitland, Lord Dundrennan, Solicitor General for Scotland, 'was devoted to antiquarian literature, and possessed a magnificent library -- "a monument" according to Lord Cockburn, "honourable to his taste and judgment" (DNB). Adams P-101; Berlin Kat. 2592; Brunet IV: 320; Cicognara 594; Fowler 212; Mortimer, Harvard Italian 352; Millard Italian 65; PMM 92; RIBA III:2383 (suggesting that the single volume issue probably predates the issue in parts).

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