Architectura Recreationis ... &c. [With:] Architectura Civilis ... &c. [&] Architectura Privata ... &c
Furttenbach, Joseph
Augsburg / Ulm. Durch Johann Schultes (first and third works) / Durch Jonam Saurn (second work). 1640; 1628; 1641
Sold
A sammelband of three of Furttenbach's architectural treatises, each a production of beautiful engraved plates and distinctive mise-en-page.
The three books relate to speculative or fantastic architecture (showing what may be achieved), civil architecture and that for a more domestic and restricted market. The design of each book is highly-accomplished, with distinctive typography and Furttenbach's text keyed to the elaborate Baroque engravings with a clear methodology. Of particular interest are those plates that deal with gardens - Furttenbach is innovative for his day in Germany - with plates showing elaborate mazes, small kitchen gardens, walled gardens and parterres, elaborate palaces, bourgeois houses, churches, theatres, cottages, orchards, stage and set designs (Furttenbach had studied in Italy with Giulio Parigi), decorative schemes, architectural details, plans and so on.
'Furttenbach (1591 - 1667), the elder of two architects of that name, was an architect in Ulm in South Germany who had previously spent ten years in Italy. His is an extensive collection of writings on every aspect of contemporary architecture, showing the extent to which architects were still expected to be jacks-of-all-trades ... The plates ... show his skill as a planner from everything from a palace downwards, including gardens and mazes; all are taken from his measured drawings.' (Weinreb).
The binding, with the distinctive title stamped direct to the head of the spine, is of a pair with that for a sammelband of works by Kircher, although the Kircher volume (of a similar period of production) features Carolus Velser's arms to the boards; the matching bookplates make it probable that they were both bound at a similar date for Velser. These three works were reprinted as a single volume in 1971.
[Berlin 1957, 1953, 1958; see Weinreb 38:82; Millard 34 for Architectura Civilis; Fowler 131 for Architectura Civilis; not in Cicognara].
The three books relate to speculative or fantastic architecture (showing what may be achieved), civil architecture and that for a more domestic and restricted market. The design of each book is highly-accomplished, with distinctive typography and Furttenbach's text keyed to the elaborate Baroque engravings with a clear methodology. Of particular interest are those plates that deal with gardens - Furttenbach is innovative for his day in Germany - with plates showing elaborate mazes, small kitchen gardens, walled gardens and parterres, elaborate palaces, bourgeois houses, churches, theatres, cottages, orchards, stage and set designs (Furttenbach had studied in Italy with Giulio Parigi), decorative schemes, architectural details, plans and so on.
'Furttenbach (1591 - 1667), the elder of two architects of that name, was an architect in Ulm in South Germany who had previously spent ten years in Italy. His is an extensive collection of writings on every aspect of contemporary architecture, showing the extent to which architects were still expected to be jacks-of-all-trades ... The plates ... show his skill as a planner from everything from a palace downwards, including gardens and mazes; all are taken from his measured drawings.' (Weinreb).
The binding, with the distinctive title stamped direct to the head of the spine, is of a pair with that for a sammelband of works by Kircher, although the Kircher volume (of a similar period of production) features Carolus Velser's arms to the boards; the matching bookplates make it probable that they were both bound at a similar date for Velser. These three works were reprinted as a single volume in 1971.
[Berlin 1957, 1953, 1958; see Weinreb 38:82; Millard 34 for Architectura Civilis; Fowler 131 for Architectura Civilis; not in Cicognara].
pp. (xxiv), 120; (xx), 78; (xii), 78. Small folio. (322 x 194 mm). Each work with engraved frontispiece, decorative printed title in red and black, dedication, Vorhede and Register; Architectura Recreationis with 35 engraved plates; Architectura Civilis with 40 engraved plates; Architectura Privata with 14 engraved plates; all plates folding and mounted to sheets matching those for the text for ease of folding, frontispiece for Architectura Privata bound after text, all works with elaborate decorative woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials throughout, German text in Gothic type throughout. Sheet size: single (text) leaf: 311 x 194 mm; folding plates of various sheet sizes: 370 x 300 mm (maximum). The plates by various engravers, largely after Furttenbach himself. Full contemporary vellum, titles stamped in blind direct to head of spine.
#43330
