Grotesque architecture, or Rural amusement, consisting of plans, elevations, and sections, for huts, retreats, summer and winter hermitages, terminaries, Chinese, Gothic, and natural grottos, cascades, baths, mosqes, moresque pavilions, grotesque and rustic seats, green houses, & c., many of which may be executed with flints, irregular stones, rude branches, and roots of trees. The while containing twenty-eight new designs, with scales to each. To which is added, an explanation, with the method of executing them

WRIGHTE, William (active 1790-1802)

Published by Printed by W. Stratford, Crown-Court, Temple-Bar; For J. Taylor, at the Architectural Library, London, 1802

About this Item

"A New Edition" of this enchanting pattern book of architectural follies, describing designs for huts, hermitages, grottoes, and other rural retreats in which many bizarre building materials are incorporated. Tall 8vo (250 x 132mm)): 8pp, with allegorical frontispiece by A. Thornthwaite, engraved by Isaac Taylor (Archer notes that Wrighte was first to publish a scene [the frontispiece] in a book of architectural designs, showing specific structures set into natural surroundings in a consciously artful way); 28 full-page plates (25 designs for various garden structures, some with plans demonstrating Wrighte's concern for Palladian principles of proportion and symmetry), and eight-page publisher's catalogue. Original plain blue wrappers lined with stiff white paper; custom brown cloth clamshell case, black leather label gilt to front, printed paper label to spine. A superb, unsophisticated survival, uncut in original wrappers, light water spots to front wrapper (but none within), occasional light foxing, an excellent example. Archer 358.4. RIBA 3724. Harris 954. Colvin, p. 1169 ("This was a successful pattern book, but nothing whatever is known about its author."). Schimmelman 147. The Third Edition (of four), virtually unaltered from the first edition of 1767. Wrighte's terse text (descriptions of the plates that follow) offers charming asides; of one structure he writes, "This design is calculated to be built on a small verdant amphitheatre, near a murmuring stream, and as a proper retreat from the fatigues of a sultry day." In the publisher's catalogue at rear, this title is one of 32 architectural and decorative pattern books, and the fact that it went into three editions over a period of 35 years indicates its perceived importance. "Although lacking Thomas Wrighte's inventive genius [Thomas Wrighte was a landscape gardener and amateur architect who published designs for Arbors (1755) and Grottos (1758)], William Wrighte's collection of grotesque folliesâ "mosques, hermitages and the like, built of rustic materials, moss, branches, roots, thatch, even woolâ "had far greater impact, being the only pattern-book on the subject that was readily available and easily manageable, which Thomas Wrighte's books certainly were not." (Harris) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable polypropylene sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).

Seller Inventory # BB1745

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Grotesque architecture, or Rural amusement, consisting of plans, elevations, and sections, for huts, retreats, summer and winter hermitages, terminaries, Chinese, Gothic, and natural grottos, cascades, baths, mosqes, moresque pavilions, grotesque and rustic seats, green houses, & c., many of which may be executed with flints, irregular stones, rude branches, and roots of trees. The while containing twenty-eight new designs, with scales to each. To which is added, an explanation, with the method...
• Publisher: Printed by W. Stratford, Crown-Court, Temple-Bar; For J. Taylor, at the Architectural Library, London
• Publication Date: 1802
• Binding: Original Wrappers
• Edition: Early Reprint.
• Condition: Near Fine+
• Seller catalogs:
  • HAND-PRESS PERIOD