or the British architect, containing the plans, elevations, and sections of the regular buildings, both public and private in Great Britain.
London, The Author, [1731]-31-67-71.
The finest work of country house illustration in Great Britain. Superb perspective views and plans of all the great mansions.
The first volume of Vitruvius Britannicus, appearing in the same year as Leoni's Palladio, was the earliest manifestation of the new Palladian revival - it was, in fact, Campbell who kindled the flames of Burlington's interest. The continuation of the series under Woolfe and Gandon (vols. 4 & 5) belongs to a much later phase of Palladianism. The five volumes together illustrate the evolution of the English country house from the great palace to the smaller villa.
Vitruvius Britannicus is indispensable for the study of 17th and 18th-century architecture in England, and it occupies its own special place in architectural history as the book which established Palladian architecture as the approved style for Britain in the 18th century. Colen Campbell issued the first three volumes between 1715 and 1725, while the Woolfe and Gandon volumes of 1767 and 1771 are a continuation illustrating work by Burlington, Kent, Ware, John Wood, Chambers, Adam and Paine. They contain in all 385 large engraved illustrations, plans and sections of palaces, country houses, government offices and churches designed by architects from Inigo Jones onwards, with extensive coverage of Wren and Vanbrugh and of Campbell's own designs in the new English Palladian style.
5 vol., first editions, engraved titles in all but vol.3 (that in red and black), titles of vol.1 & 2 in third state without imprints, titles and text all in English and French, engraved dedications in all but vol.2 & 3, vol.4 & 5 with lists of subscribers, 491 engraved plates on 385 sheets only (of 493 on 386, lacking as usual the double-page plate of Umberslade at end of vol.3), including 91 double-page plates and 5 quadruple, this copy with an additional engraved allegorical frontispiece in vol.1 after William Kent,
Berlin 2329; Colvin p. 209 Fowler p62; Millard, British Books, 10.
The first volume of Vitruvius Britannicus, appearing in the same year as Leoni's Palladio, was the earliest manifestation of the new Palladian revival - it was, in fact, Campbell who kindled the flames of Burlington's interest. The continuation of the series under Woolfe and Gandon (vols. 4 & 5) belongs to a much later phase of Palladianism. The five volumes together illustrate the evolution of the English country house from the great palace to the smaller villa.
Vitruvius Britannicus is indispensable for the study of 17th and 18th-century architecture in England, and it occupies its own special place in architectural history as the book which established Palladian architecture as the approved style for Britain in the 18th century. Colen Campbell issued the first three volumes between 1715 and 1725, while the Woolfe and Gandon volumes of 1767 and 1771 are a continuation illustrating work by Burlington, Kent, Ware, John Wood, Chambers, Adam and Paine. They contain in all 385 large engraved illustrations, plans and sections of palaces, country houses, government offices and churches designed by architects from Inigo Jones onwards, with extensive coverage of Wren and Vanbrugh and of Campbell's own designs in the new English Palladian style.
5 vol., first editions, engraved titles in all but vol.3 (that in red and black), titles of vol.1 & 2 in third state without imprints, titles and text all in English and French, engraved dedications in all but vol.2 & 3, vol.4 & 5 with lists of subscribers, 491 engraved plates on 385 sheets only (of 493 on 386, lacking as usual the double-page plate of Umberslade at end of vol.3), including 91 double-page plates and 5 quadruple, this copy with an additional engraved allegorical frontispiece in vol.1 after William Kent,
Berlin 2329; Colvin p. 209 Fowler p62; Millard, British Books, 10.
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