Description: Domenico Fontana was an Italian renaissance architect who worked closely with Pope Sixtus V in reshaping Rome. His most famous feat is recorded in this book: moving the Egyptian Obelisk, brought to Rome in the first century C.E., from its place in the Vatican Circus to the front of the St. Peter’s Basilica. Fontana erected a framed wooden tower surrounding the obelisk and by means of ropes attached to the tower, raised the obelisk from its pedestal and then lowered it to reset on a wooden platform. This platform was drawn on rollers to the new site where the tower was raised and set on a new base. There are also plates that illustrate many of the buildings and designs that Fontana executed for the Pope. This volume has the original vellum boards with some support added; the book itself has been rebound in a modern binding by Reuben Kreps, Custom Book Binding, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The missing plates (Plate 11 and the next one, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 28, 30, 32, 35, 53, 72, 75 which is a double page illustration, 76, 106 & 107) have been replaced by facsimiles. The fold outs seem to be complete. For more pictures, please email and we will be glad to oblige. This is a rare and unusual look at engineering by one of the Renaissance's best known architects. Acceptable Condition: folio: original vellum binding (as shown) with Bookplate of previous owner inside: modern binding of 3/4 leather with gilt lines over marbled papers, again with bookplate inside: pencil markings and notations on spare (see photo): some foxing and tide marks: interesting early marginalia at spots (written in Italian? Or Latin?):Engravings by Natale Bonifacio de Sebenico both original and facsimile: great decorated capitals and publisher’s flourishes: many repaired pages: “Della Transportazione dell-obelisco Vaticano et delle fabriche di Nostro signore papa Sisto V”: Domenico Fontana: Rome: Domenico Basa: 1590RAREE1590OXYA
Price: 2500 USD
Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
End Time: 2024-10-13T18:05:56.000Z
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Year Printed: 1590
Topic: Architecture
Binding: Hardcover
Illustrator: Natale Bonifacio
Author: Domenico Fontana
Subject: History
Original/Facsimile: Original
Language: Italian
Publisher: Domenico Baso
Place of Publication: Rome
Special Attributes: Illustrated
