One of the Most Rare Works of Architecture
Henry Wotton, Knight – The Elements of Architecture
Published in London by John Bill – 1624
Wotton [Knight], Henry. THE ELEMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE. Collected by Henry Wotton Knight, from the best Authors and Examples. (London: Printed by Iohn Bill, 1624) First Edition. A copy with fine provenance, having been owned by John George Home-Drummond of Abbots Grange, descendent of Henry Lord Kames Home (1696-1782), of George Home-Drummond of Blair Drummond. 4to, antique three-quarter black straight-grained morocco over marbled boards, the spine lettered in gilt and decorated with double gilt fillet bands. (10), 123 pp. A very pleasing copy, clean and crisp, unwashed and unpressed, the binding with some evidence of age or use with light rubbing or wear at the tips.
VERY RARE FIRST EDITION OF THIS HIGHLY IMPORTANT WORK WITH FINE PROVENANCE. VERY FEW COPIES ARE KNOWN TO HAVE APPEARED AT AUCTION AND FEWER STILL IN THE OPEN MARKETPLACE. One of the earliest works of architecture in English, it is responsible for the introduction of classical and neo-classical architecture to the English speaking world. Wotton, who dedicated the book to Prince Henry, states in his preface that he "shall not neede (like the most part of Writers) to celebrated the Subject which I deliver. In that point I am at ease. For Architecture can want no commendation, where there are Noble Men, or Noble mindes; i will therefore spend this Preface, rather about those from whom I have gathered my knowledge."
The work begins its discourse with discussions of Vitruvius and proceeds on to Alberti the Florentine, and to the other Renaissance architects and the work they perfected.
See: Histories of Noble British Families, with Biographical Notices of the Most Distinguished Individuals in Each, Illustrated by their Armorial Bearings Portraits Monuments Seals Etc. (Part VI, London, William Pickering, 1844) and George Edward Cockayne, The Complete Baronetage (Exeter, William Pollard & Co, 1902). |
