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4to. 20 x 28.5cm. Half goatskin and marbled boards by the artisan binder Sasha Mosalov.RA Collection: xl, 413, [1], 10 pl.: [10] illus.; 287 mm. Contents[Half-t., t.p.] - Contents - [Dedic.] - List Of Subscribers - Preface - Life Of Vitruvius - List Of The Several Editions And Versions Of Vitruvius - [Divisional t.p., 'The Architecture Of Marcus Vitruvius Pollio'] - List Of The Chapters - Explanation Of The Head Pieces Prefixed To The Introduction Of Each Book - [Text] - [Divisional t.p., 'Plates Illustrative Of The Architecture Of Marcus Vitruvius Pollio. By Joseph Gwilt.'] - [Plates, and explanatory letterpress] - Index; [colophon].Responsibility Note:The plates are signed as drawn by J. Gwilt and engraved by Jas. Carter, J. Roffe, , J. Lowry, W. Woolnoth, W. Kelsall or R. Roffe. Each carries the publishers' imprint of Priestley and Weale.Most in-text illustrations are unsigned, but two are signed as printed by Carter. Later 19th-century editions reproduce these illustrations signed as designed by J. Gwilt or J. Gandy [i.e. John Peter Gandy, R.A.].The printer is named on the half-title verso and in the colophon: 'G. Woodfall, Angel Court, Skinner Street, London.'.The work is dedicated by Joseph Gwilt to the King [George IV].References:Royal Institute of British Architects, British Architectural Library . Early printed books, 4 (2001), no. 3508, p.2290-1; John Hopkins University, The Fowler Architectural Collection (1961, rep. 1991), no. 430, p.335.L. Vagnetti, 'Regesto cronologico e critico delle edizione, delle traduzioni e delle ricerche . Marco Vitruvio Pollione', in Studi e documenti di architettura, 8 (September 1978), p.11-184.Summary Note:This is the second complete translation into English of Vitruvius's De architectura - the only ancient text on Greco-Roman architecture that has survived complete; which provides an account of Greek and early Roman architecture to around the end of the first century B.C.A Latin text was printed between 1484 and 1487; but the versions of Barbaro (1556), Perrault (1673) and Galiani (1758) became the most widely used editions. German and Spanish translations were also made, but the first English translation was an abridgment (1692, reissue 1729) - Newton's complete translation not appearing until 1771-1791. Gwilt states that he was determined to give the English student a truer interpretation; and his remained the standard translation throughout the nineteenth century.The ten plates show: 1. compass of winds, brickwork [adapted from Galiani plates]; 2. city fortifications [adapted from Galiani]; 3-7. plans and elevations of temples [reduced copies of Newton plates]; 8. details of orders; 9. roof-construction, doorways, Tuscan order [adapted from Newton]; 10. plans and elevations of temples [adapted from Newton].The ten headpieces show: 1. plan of Rome; 2. rock-carving proposed for Mt Athos; 3. plan of Athens Acropolis; 4. capitals of three orders; 5. a forum; 6. Roman house-entrance with flanking shops; 7. an ancient fresco; 8. ruined aqueduct; 9. Earth and zodiac; 10. catapultists from Trajan's Column.Twenty-five copies of the present edition were offered on large paper.
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