Architectural decorations: a periodical work of original designs invented from the Egyptian, the Greek, the Roman, the Etruscan, the Attic, the Gothic &c. for exterior and interior decoration of galleries, halls, apartments &c either in painting o

Book Description

London: published by Landi, sold by Thos. King Jun., 1810 [title watermarked 1808, plates variously watermarked 1802 and 1809]. Imperial folio. (21 x 16 inches). Engraved calligraphic title, 30 hand-coloured aquatint plates, by G. d'Argenzo after Landi, the 7th plate with a slip pasted on as part of the title. Contemporary red morocco gilt, covers with wide decorative border in gilt and blind, composed from fillets, roll tools and star tools at each corner, expertly re-backed to style in red morocco, the spine in seven compartments with raised bands, lettered in the second, the others with repeat decoration in gilt, contemporary marbled endpapers. Very rare series of beautiful and unusual design treatments for buildings, rooms and accessories Each of the five styles (Greek, Roman, Gothic, Egyptian and Chinese) are represented by six plates (numbered [1]-6; 6 unnumbered; 13-18; [1]-6; and unnumbered. Landi, according to the title, was a professor at the University of Bologna and a member of the Clementine Academy, and he issued the present work from his address at the Sablonnière Hotel in London. This work is very rare: over the past thirty years only two other copies are listed as having sold at auction (one of which included only 24 plates). Landi appears to have issued at least two other equally rare works of a similar nature (A Collection of Designs of Architecture, Decorations and Ornaments London: 1810, and Original Designs for Exterior and Interior Decorations, London: 1810). A copy with 30 plates which sold at auction (Christies 30 October 1996, lot 85) was in a binding made up from the original boards rebacked, but was described as appearing "to be complete". The present example has the plates bound in a different order to the Christie's copy but is otherwise the same. Lowndes II, p.1305; OCLC 44866539 (3 copies) and 71210692 (2 copies)

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