Title: Architecture ou Art de bien bastir de Marc Vitruve Pollion autheur romain antique, 1572. Second Edition of the Complete French Translation of Vitruvius. Over 100 Large Woodcut Illustrations, Many Full-Page
Author: Marcus Vitruvius Pollio; Jean Martin
Publisher: Paris, Jérôme de Marnef et Guillaume Cavellat
Condition: Fair
A late 16th century edition of Jean Martin’s French translation of Vitruvius’ De Architectura, following the first French Edition of 1547.
The work is profusely illustrations with beautiful woodcut illustrations of architectural schematics, complex Renaissance ornaments, graceful scenes, theatrical stage settings in Italian perspective, and numerous woodcut initials. Many of the woodcuts are full-page examples.
Most of the cuts are the work of Jean Goujon, while the larger initials are attributable to Jean Cousin. Vitruvius' treatise is followed by Goujon's discourse on his own illustrations.
Pages 3-6, 29-30, 55-56, 75-78, 87-90, 111-114, 153-154, 179-190, 255-256, 273-276, the folding woodcut, and one of the two large woodcuts at the end are lacking.
One vellum bound volume in folio, (8)+314 of 351 pages
This volume is in fair shape, with some rubbing and old staining to the binding, which has splayed. The first and last leaves has been heavily restored, the title page having been mounted, and the last leaf having been reinforced due to a tear. Pages 67 is torn with a corner lacking, and page 101 is partially torn, without text loss. Several pages have had their margins crudely trimmed down. There is foxing and staining throughout.