Beschreibung:

FONTANA, Domenico (1543-1607). Della trasportatione dell'obelisco Vaticano et delle fabriche di Nostro Signore Papa Sisto V . Rome: Domenico Basa, 1590. Large 2 o (411 x 272 mm). Engraved title, portrait of Fontana and 38 etched and engraved plates by Natali Bonifazio da Sebenico, 2 double-page, 1 folding; with an 2 additional engravings on conjugate 4 o leaves with margins extended to folio between S6 and T1, the second signed by Girolamo Rainaldi after Fontana; 3 diagrams in text. (Lower fore-corner on portrait with dampstain, the etching on F2 mounted, some light foxing, mostly marginal, some minor pale stains at end.) 17th-century French red morocco gilt, panelled sides, spine tooled in compartments, edges gilt (minor wear to extremities, joints cracking at head slightly). Provenance : Thomas Anson of Shugborough (armorial bookplate). Anson was the older brother of George Anson (1697-1762), Admiral of the Fleet, who is best know for his famous A Voyage Round the World (London, 1748); Rufford Abbey (reading room instruction mounted on front flyleaf). FIRST EDITION, RECORDING AND ILLUSTRATING ONE OF THE GREAT ENGINEERING FEATS OF THE RENAISSANCE. Fontana organized and directed this successful attempt to move the Vatican obelisk. Over 900 men, 150 horses and 47 cranes were required, and the project took four and a half months to complete (from 30 April to 10 September 1586). The plates "are important examples in the development of architectural drawing" (Fowler), and are considered by Olschki to be "remarquables au point de vue artistique autant que technique." Some plates towards the end illustrate the buildings designed by Fontana for Sixtus V. The Fowler copy, as this copy, includes the two additonal half-page plates on a bifolium (dated 1591) of a catafalque designed by Fontana. FINE COPY. Brunet II, 1329; Cicognara 3736; Dibner Heralds of Science 174; Fowler 124; Harvard/Mortimer Italian 193; Olschki 16955; Norman 812.