The famous churches of Europe

[Architecture]. Eglises principales de l'Europe. Dediées a S.S. Leon XII. souverain pontife.

Milan, chez les éditeurs (Destefanis, Bernardoni) et chez Ferd. Artaria / Rome, chez Louis De Romanis, [1824-1831].

Folio (500 x 670 mm). Engraved title, engraved dedication, letterpress table of subscribers; 1) 16 pp. of letterpress text, 10 plates (2 coloured aquatints); 2) 24 pp. of letterpress text, 11 plates (2 coloured aquatints); 3) 12 pp. of letterpress text, 10 plates; 4) letterpress table of subscribers, 13 pp. of letterpress text, 10 plates (2 coloured aquatints); 5) 11 pp. of letterpress text, 10 plates (2 aquatints); 6) 12 pp. of letterpress text, 10 plates (2 aquatints); 7) 13 pp. of letterpress text, 10 plates (2 aquatints); 8) 14 pp. of letterpress text, 10 plates (2 coloured aquatints); 9) 14 pp. of letterpress text, 10 plates (2 coloured aquatints); 10) 6 pp. of letterpress text, 6 (instead of 10) plates (2 aquatints); 11) 10 pp. of letterpress text, 10 plates. A total of 107 (of 111) plates including 18 (of 22) aquatints, of which 10 are in original hand colour. Bound with 5 of the original wrappers in a calf portfolio with giltstamped spine and cover borders; marbled pastedowns.

 18,000.00

Very rare near-complete set of this beautiful collection of plates showing famous churches in Europe. The plates show 1) St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, 2) the Milan Cathedral, 3) the Pantheon in Rome, 4) St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, 5) the Florence Cathedral, 6) the Pisa Cathedral, 7) St John in the Lateran, 8) the Siena Cathedral, 9) St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, 10) the cathedrals of Antwerp and Ghent, and 11) the Basilica of Superga. The aquatints show interior and exterior views, the uncoloured line-engraved plates are plans, cross-sections, interiors, monuments, among others.

A wide-margined set showing occasional browning and foxing, mainly confined to margins, and a few insignificant edge flaws. Wrappers slightly stained with repairs, all bound in an impressive full leather portfolio.

References

Brunet I, 1843. Graesse II, 133. OCLC 21782995. Cf. Thieme/Becker XXIX, 214. Not in Fowler or in Kat. der Ornamentstichslg. Berlin.