Folio, [xxiv], 448, [1] pp. Illustrated with hundreds of architectural woodcuts. Lacking pp. 75-76, 107-114, 255-256, 357-358. Condition: tear without loss in p. 201, brown stains and small holes in pp. 317-322. Small holes in p. 395. Some damp staining. 19th c. half calf binding, marbled boards, morocco title piece. Not subject to return
Sebastiano Serlio (1475-1554), architect, wrote this work over several years. It was justifiably popular since it gave the first clear instructions on the proportions of the classical orders and was copiously illustrated. First written in the vernacular, De architectura was later translated into several languages, giving both builder and patron an excellent pattern-book of designs and architectural ornament. This second issue of Giovanni Carlo Saraceni's Latin translation may be distinguished from the first by his long preface to Giovanni Delfino. Ref. Fowler 328; Harvard Cat. (Italian) 476; Cicognara 672