Beschreibung:

A book of ceilings, composed in the style of the antique grotesque ... / Livre de plat-fonds, composés d'après les grotesques antiques ... Mit gestoch. Widmungsblatt u. 48 radierten Tafeln (1 doppels.). London, printed for the author, (1774)-1776. Tit., Widm., II, II, 11 S. (2-spalt. Tafelerläuterungen in Engl./Frz.), Taf. Gr.-Fol. Geflecktes Kalbsldr. d. Zt. auf 6 Bünden mit goldgepr. RTitel, RVerg., Rotschnitt u. marmor. Vorsätzen (berieben, einige Schabspuren im Bezug, Deckelecken u. Gelenke tls. restauriert, 1 Gelenk angeplatzt). Architektur Kunstwissenschaften – Erste Auflage von Richardsons erstem Buch, das in 8 Teilen mit je sechs Tafeln erschien. Der erste Teil scheint 1774 veröffentlich worden zu sein. - BAL. Catalogue of Early Printed Books III, 2752. - Archer. Literature of British Domestic Architecture 1715-1842, 428.1 u. S. 723-728. - Abbey, Life 56 (kol. Ex.). - Berlin Kat. 3995. - "George Richardson (1736(?)-1813(?)) was an obscure satellite in the Adam family constellation - his dates are unkown, his ascertained built works few, and his published designs and theories derivative - yet he played an interesting part in the development of architectural publication ... His first publication A Book of Ceilings ... borrowed from the Adams' Works in Architecture the large format, the bilingual text and the option of hand-coloring for the plates, and by acting as his own publisher he maintained the standards of presentation on which his artistic reputation would rest, but at the same time he aimed at wider sales. His designs are candidly offered for imitation and adaption, his prices were kept down by the twin strategies of engraving his own plates and part-publishing, and he was remarkable successful in attracting subscriptions" (Jonathan Franklin in: Millard Architectural Collection. British Books, S. 246). - Die Tafeln u.a. mit Entwürfen für Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire, Draper's Hall in London u. Sir Lawrence Dundas Haus in Edinburgh. Zu den Abonnenten des Werkes gehörten John Adam William Chambers William Ince James Paine u. James Wyatt - Gelegentlich gering fleckig, die auf dickem Papier gedruckten Illustrationen in neoklassizistischem Stil insg. frisch u. wohlerhalten. Science of Art – First edition of Richardson's first book, which was published in 8 parts with six plates each. The first part seems to have been published in 1774. - With engraved dedication leaf and 48 etched plates (1 double). Contemp. mottled calf on 6 raised bands with gilt stamped title, spine gilt, red edges and marbled endpapers (rubbed, some scuffing to covers, cover corners and joints partly restored, 1 joint cracking). - "George Richardson (1736(?)-1813(?)) was an obscure satellite in the Adam family constellation - his dates are unkown, his ascertained built works few, and his published designs and theories derivative - yet he played an interesting part in the development of architectural publication ... His first publication A Book of Ceilings ... borrowed from the Adams' Works in Architecture the large format, the bilingual text and the option of hand-colouring for the plates, and by acting as his own publisher he maintained the standards of presentation on which his artistic reputation would rest, but at the same time he aimed at wider sales. His designs are candidly offered for imitation and adaptation, his prices were kept down by the twin strategies of engraving his own plates and part-publishing, and he was remarkable successful in attracting subscriptions" (Jonathan Franklin in: Millard Architectural Collection. British Books, p. 246). - The plates include designs for Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire, Draper's Hall in London and Sir Lawrence Dunda's house in Edinburgh. Among the subscribers to the work were John Adam William Chambers William Ince James Paine and James Wyatt - Occasional minor staining, the illustrations printed on thick paper in neoclassical style generally fresh and well preserved.