VITRUVIUS POLLIO, Marcus (1st century BCE). De architectura libri dece. Translated by Cesare Cesariano (c.1478-1543). Commentary by Cesariano, Benedetto Giovio and Massimo Bono Mauro. Como: Gottardo da Ponte for Agostino Gallo and Aloisio Pirovano...
VITRUVIUS POLLIO, Marcus (1st century BCE). De architectura libri dece. Translated by Cesare Cesariano (c.1478-1543). Commentary by Cesariano, Benedetto Giovio and Massimo Bono Mauro. Como: Gottardo da Ponte for Agostino Gallo and Aloisio Pirovano, 15 July 1521.
The Como Vitruvius, one of the finest illustrated books of the Italian Renaissance, from the library of French humanist, Jacques Bongars. Counselor to Henri IV, Bongars was a passionate collector of books and manuscripts. On his death, his library passed to Jakob Graviseth, son-in-law of the mayor of Bern, who gifted the collection to that city in 1632; the manuscripts remain there today. The fine woodcuts, clearly influenced by Leonardo da Vinci, are largely the work of Cesariano himself, and the three plates showing plans and elevations of Milan cathedral are considered 'the earliest authentic representations of Gothic architecture in a printed book' (Fowler). Cesariano’s important translation from Latin into Italian - its first printing in any vernacular language - was completed by Govio and Bono Mauro. Gottardo da Ponte was brought specially to Como to print this edition with the financial backing of Augustino Gallo and Aloisio Pirovano and in a print-run of 1300 copies. This copy with the corrected state of the heading ('tutta lopera') on the final leaf. Adams V-904; Berlin Kat 1802; Dibner Heralds 170; Fowler 395; Millard Italian 158; Mortimer, Harvard Italian 544; RIBA 3519.
Folio (406 x 275mm). Woodcut printer's device on title and penultimate leaf, numerous large historiated and foliated initials, 117 woodcut illustrations, 9 full-page (two outer sheets lightly browned, last leaf with 2 minor marginal repairs). 18th-century calf, red leather spine label, sprinkled edges (lightly worn at extremities). Provenance: Jacques Bongars (1554-1612; French humanist and diplomat; title inscription) – Bern, City Library (stamp on title) – Lucini Passalaova (bookplate) – Pasolini (20th-century bookplate).
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VITRUVIUS POLLIO, Marcus (1st century BCE). De architectura libri dece. Translated by Cesare Cesariano (c.1478-1543). Commentary by Cesariano, Benedetto Giovio and Massimo Bono Mauro. Como: Gottardo da Ponte for Agostino Gallo and Aloisio Pirovano, 15 July 1521.
The Como Vitruvius, one of the finest illustrated books of the Italian Renaissance, from the library of French humanist, Jacques Bongars. Counselor to Henri IV, Bongars was a passionate collector of books and manuscripts. On his death, his library passed to Jakob Graviseth, son-in-law of the mayor of Bern, who gifted the collection to that city in 1632; the manuscripts remain there today. The fine woodcuts, clearly influenced by Leonardo da Vinci, are largely the work of Cesariano himself, and the three plates showing plans and elevations of Milan cathedral are considered 'the earliest authentic representations of Gothic architecture in a printed book' (Fowler). Cesariano’s important translation from Latin into Italian - its first printing in any vernacular language - was completed by Govio and Bono Mauro. Gottardo da Ponte was brought specially to Como to print this edition with the financial backing of Augustino Gallo and Aloisio Pirovano and in a print-run of 1300 copies. This copy with the corrected state of the heading ('tutta lopera') on the final leaf. Adams V-904; Berlin Kat 1802; Dibner Heralds 170; Fowler 395; Millard Italian 158; Mortimer, Harvard Italian 544; RIBA 3519.
Folio (406 x 275mm). Woodcut printer's device on title and penultimate leaf, numerous large historiated and foliated initials, 117 woodcut illustrations, 9 full-page (two outer sheets lightly browned, last leaf with 2 minor marginal repairs). 18th-century calf, red leather spine label, sprinkled edges (lightly worn at extremities). Provenance: Jacques Bongars (1554-1612; French humanist and diplomat; title inscription) – Bern, City Library (stamp on title) – Lucini Passalaova (bookplate) – Pasolini (20th-century bookplate).
Special Notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
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Time, Location
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