Rubens, Architecture italienne... des plus beaux edifices... de Genes, Amsterdam & Leipzig, 1755, half vellum

Peter Paul Rubens

Architecture italienne, contenant les plans et elevations des plus beaux palais et edifices de la ville de Genes... troisieme edition augmenté. Amsterdam and Leipzig: Arkstée and Merkus, 1755

folio (466 x 280mm.), title printed in red and black with engraved device, 72+67 numbered engraved plates on 134 sheets (some with 2 plates to a sheet), 35 plates double-page or folding, contemporary half vellum over orange patterned paper boards, a few folding plates with tears or creases, a few plates slightly shaved at foredge, binding somewhat rubbed

Rubens's survey of sixteenth-century Genoese palazzi and other buildings, undertaken during his trip to Genoa in around 1605-1606 and using drawings from other artists, was first published in 1622 in Antwerp. Its purpose was to provide examples of houses suitable for gentlemen in the Low Countries (Rubens' own Rubenshuis incorporated italianate features) and thus contributed to the interest in Genoese architecture in northern Europe.

PROVENANCE:

small armorial stamp on title-page of the Récourt family (Arras), "Sig. Dom. de Recourt mil"