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an old book with a drawing of a column and a drawing of a man on a horsean open book with a drawing of an arch on itan old book with a brown cover sitting on a white surfacean old book with a picture of a frame in the middlean old drawing of a building with a dome on top of itan open book with a drawing of a dome on top of a buildinga drawing of a column with a clock on itdrawing of a drawing of a large arch with statues on it
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335 - Italy – DESGODETS (Antoine). The Ancient Buildings of Rome. …
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Estimate €3,500 - €4,000
Sale commission
Description
Italy – DESGODETS (Antoine). The Ancient Buildings of Rome. Paris, Coignard, 1682. Large folio, grained calfskin, decorated ribbed spine, gilt roulette on the edges. First edition, illustrated with a frontispiece, 2 headpieces, 2 initials and 137 full-page plates, including 21 spread across two leaves, based on the author’s drawings. Antoine Desgodets (1653–1728) was appointed the King’s scholar in Rome in 1674 and remained there for a year and a half. On his return, he presented his work to Colbert, who was impressed by the quality and precision of his drawings and encouraged him to publish them with the assistance of the finest engravers: Sébastien Le Clerc, de Chastillon, Le Pautre, etc. The main value of the work lies in the precision of the measurements taken, which enabled the author to highlight inconsistencies between Vitruvius’s theory and the measured ruins, whilst at the same time pointing out the errors of Serlio, Palladio, Fréart de Chambray and Blondel. Desgodets was then under 30 years of age, and his challenge to the theories of the great architects was met with some reluctance by the Royal Academy, and in particular by François Blondel, who was its director. He had to wait more than twenty years for his merits to be recognised. A very fine copy in excellent condition, with a few minor signs of wear.
See original version (French)
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About the sale MONTIGNAC – 31st BOOK SALE – Day 1 of 4 – Nos. 1 to 549
Auction location
Auction time 08/19/2026 at 11:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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