Artistic literature
Cesaretti Library
Volumes of artistic relevance
Art literature includes fundamental texts for the study and understanding of the visual arts, artists and movements that have characterized the different historical eras. This section collects critical works, monographs, catalogues and theoretical writings which represent reference tools for art historians, researchers and enthusiasts in the sector.
Iconology
Author: Cesare Ripa Perugino
In which are described various Images, of Virtues, Vices, Affections, Human Passions, Arts, Disciplines, Humors, Elements, Celestial Bodies, Provinces of Italy, Rivers, All Parts of the World, and infinite other subjects.
Recently enlarged by the same author with 200 illustrations, and enriched with many discourses full of varied erudition; with new engravings, and with copious indexes at the end.
Dedicated to the most illustrious Mr. Filippo Salviati.
Siena, At the Heirs of Matteo Florimi, 1613.
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Two parts in one volume in-4°, 19th century half parchment binding with title on a tag and gold decorations on the spine. Pp. (12)-436 (but 400: pp. 305-340 are omitted from the numbering)-409-(1) (2)-12 (error) placed between pp. 378-379 of the second part (that is, between the end of the text and the beginning of the Plate: thus, a complete work in all its parts). Woodcut vignette on the title page (with motto: Laetificat ubique), some engraved initials, head- and tailpieces, as well as 200 woodcuts in the text (collated: complete). Some light browning and water stains, a meeting stain that has corroded the paper on p. 111/112 of the second part, but a more than good copy. This is an important edition of Ripa's magnum opus, which was highly influential throughout Europe. Compared to the second edition of 1603, the first illustrated one, and the pirated edition of 1611 (which the author nevertheless appreciated), this edition contains almost 150 new allegories (for a total of 1,214). In addition to other minor changes, 48 new woodcut images have been added, compared to the 152 in the 1603 edition, this time all by Ripa. Ripa was dissatisfied with the work of the Roman printers, who were not accustomed to proofreading, and so this edition, begun in 1608 in Florence, should be considered the first to have been directly supervised by the author.
The Roman baths
Author: Andrea Palladio and Ottavio Bertotti Scamozzi
Publisher: The copy of the Lord Co. of Burlingthon printed in London in 1732
Descriptions by Andrea Palladio and new publications with some observations by Ottavio Bertotti Scamozzi
Vicenza, for Francesco Modena, 1785. First edition.
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Large folio (48.5x35 cm). 35, [1] pp., frontispiece and 25 plates (17 double). Frontispiece text in Italian, remainder in French. Bound in attractive and elegant contemporary half-leather, six-string spine, with title on a leather tag and gilt lettering. A very fine copy with only some light browning on some plates. This work was published the same year in Italian, French, and in a bilingual French-Italian edition. The text describes the largest public baths built in Rome between the 1st and 4th centuries: the baths of Agrippa, Nero, “Vespasian” [i.e., those of Titus], “Titus” [i.e., those of Trajan], Caracalla, Diocletian, and Constantine, and “some other drawings pertaining to the baths.” The plates show plans, elevations, sections, and details of columns. Rare.
History of sculpture from the Risorgimento in Italy to the century of Canova.
Author: Leopold Cicognara
Publisher: For the Giachetti brothers, 1823-25
By Count Leopoldo Cicognara. To serve as a continuation of the works of Winckelmann and d'Agincourt. Prato, Giachetti, 1823-25.
Seven volumes in 8° and a folio atlas with 185 plates. Contemporary half-vellum bindings (the atlas's binding is different). A fundamental work in the history of modern art and Cicognara's major work, intended to continue the work of Winckelmann and D'Agincourt.
Research on the beauties of painting and the merits of the most famous painters
Author: Daniele Webb
Publisher: Parma, Royal Printing House, 1804
Vols. 2
In 8°, original hardback, pp. (6)-180-2, (4)-161-3. Good copy with a large red stain on the second volume due to an error during the colouring of the edges.
