Saggio Teorico-Pratico Intorno alla Determinazione dell'Ombre nei Diversi Soggetti d'Architettura Geometrica
Rossi-melocchi, Cosimo
Florence. Presso Giuseppe Tofani, e Comp. dall'Aquila Nera. 1805
Sold
A large paper copy, likely Rossi-Melocchi's own, of his accomplished work on the technical assessment of shade in architecture and geometry, bound with the original watercolours for the work.
Cosimo Rossi-Melocchi (1758 - 1820) produced this accomplished and modern treatise during his tenure as the Vice-President of the R. Accademia della Belle Arti. The treatise, treating of the scientific properties of shade in architectural and geometric terms and indebted to Newton, da Vinci and Alberti, exists in several states; the copy presented here features the signature of Rossi-Melocchi to the dedication to the President of the R. Accademia della Belle Arti and the engraved head-piece to the same dedication (copies are known without either) but more importantly this copy features the original watercolours, presumably by Rossi-Melocchi himself.
The watercolours, executed in delicate washes of blue, grey, ochre and pink, are bound in to precede each of the monochrome plates, and differ from the published versions. The watercolours are bound in on smaller sheets than the engraved plates, so that when the engravings are unfolded, one may view both series at once.
'Cosimo Rossi-Melocchi studied in Pistoia, Florence and Rome. He paainted architectural views in the style of Canaletto. He was also an architect and writer.' (Benezit).
It is worth noting that Rossi-Melocchi's study is rare in commerce, with only a handful of copies appearing at auction. In institutional terms, the study is less rare, however, we can trace no copies of this size and format, nor any record of the additional watercolours.
[Cicognara 635 & 856].
Cosimo Rossi-Melocchi (1758 - 1820) produced this accomplished and modern treatise during his tenure as the Vice-President of the R. Accademia della Belle Arti. The treatise, treating of the scientific properties of shade in architectural and geometric terms and indebted to Newton, da Vinci and Alberti, exists in several states; the copy presented here features the signature of Rossi-Melocchi to the dedication to the President of the R. Accademia della Belle Arti and the engraved head-piece to the same dedication (copies are known without either) but more importantly this copy features the original watercolours, presumably by Rossi-Melocchi himself.
The watercolours, executed in delicate washes of blue, grey, ochre and pink, are bound in to precede each of the monochrome plates, and differ from the published versions. The watercolours are bound in on smaller sheets than the engraved plates, so that when the engravings are unfolded, one may view both series at once.
'Cosimo Rossi-Melocchi studied in Pistoia, Florence and Rome. He paainted architectural views in the style of Canaletto. He was also an architect and writer.' (Benezit).
It is worth noting that Rossi-Melocchi's study is rare in commerce, with only a handful of copies appearing at auction. In institutional terms, the study is less rare, however, we can trace no copies of this size and format, nor any record of the additional watercolours.
[Cicognara 635 & 856].
[37 leaves; pp. 26 + 12 plates]. Large 4to. (368 x 288 mm). Leaf with printed title, two leaves with Rossi-Melocchi's dedication to the 'Presidente della R. Accademie della Belle Arti' with engraved head-piece, leaf with letter from Pietro Ferroni to Rossi-Melocchi, text ('Ogetto dell'Opera', 'Avvertimento Essenziale' and 'Applicazione Pratica') and 12 monochrome engraved plates with aquatint on large folding sheets showing 17 figures (numbered in Roman numerals I - XVII) and the original watercolours (see below); sheet sizes: 348 x 550 mm (monochrome and folding), 348 x 260 mm (colour). Contemporary calf-backed marbled boards, gilt title to spine, ruled in gilt in seven compartments.
#43403
