James Stuart and and Nicholas Revett | The Antiquities of Athens. London, 1762-1816, 4 volumes, red half morocco

James Stuart and Nicholas Revett

The Antiquities of Athens. London: John Haberkorn [John Nichols, volumes 2 and 3 and T. Bensley for J. Taylor, volume 4], 1762-1816

4 volumes, folio (549 x 375mm.), 3 engraved frontispiece portraits (volumes 1, 2, and 4) and 316 plates, plans and maps by J. Basire, C. Grignion.... including a large hand-coloured folding map of Greece in volume 3, contemporary red half morocco, spilt gilt, corners slightly bumped, without plate 29 of volume 2 (not issued), volume 3 lacking the map of the Bay of PhalerusStuart and Revett, at the request of the "Society of Dilettanti", visited Athens in 1751, Stuart carrying out the surveys and Revett the topographical views. The Antiquities of Athens was the first accurate survey of the classical buildings of Athens, through the influence of which the Greek style was first established in English architecture. John Summerston has described it as "one of the three most important architectural books of the century".

This copy includes an engraved portrait of the author in volume 1 which is not mentioned in the BAL RIBA bibliography.

LITERATURE:

BAL RIBA 3183-3186; Blackmer 1017; Cicognara 2713; Fowler 340; Harris 857