THE PEAK OF ARCHITECTURE

BLONDEL, JACQUES-FRANCOIS.

De la Distribution des Maisons de Plaisance et de la Décoration des Edifices en general. 2 vols. [On the Designing of Country Seats and the Decoration of Buildings in General].

Paris, Charles-Antoine Jambert, 1737-38. 4to. Bound in 2 cont. full calf. 5 raised bands, richly gilt compartments. Title-and tomelabels in leather on back. Bindings with light wear to hinges, so that the cords are occasionally showing, and some cracking of leather at upper and lower compartment, but binding tight. A little wear to spine ends, otherwise fine. Half-title, engraved frontispiece (by Cochin), title ind red/black, (6) pp. (= dedication a Monsieur Turgot),XVI,198,(1) (Errata leaf) ; VIII,180 pp. Volume one having 44 fine engraved plates (42 double-or triple-page, 2 single-page) and 9 engraved head- and tail-pieces. Volume two having 112 fine engraved plates (numb. 1-99, no. 25 omitted and 13 with double- or triple numbering) and 3 head- and tail-pieces. Most of the plates drawn and engraved by Blondel. All text-pages printed within a borderline. On good thick paper, fresh and clean.

First edition, first issue (errata leaf and "Rue St. Jacques" for the printer on title) of Blondel's main architectural work, his monumental four-volume encyclopaedia of French buildings, which also constitutes his first work. The work is one of the most influential architectural treatises of the eighteenth century, as well as being one of the most comprehensive, beautiful and celebrated architectural works of the Rococco-period.

Jacques-François Blondel (1705-74) is considered the most significant French architectural educator of the eighteenth century. After having produced his first work, the seminal "De la Distribution..." at the age of 33, Blodel was so admired that he was asked to produce engravings for the festival book commemorating the celebration of the wedding of Madame Elizabeth of France to Dom Philippe of Spain. In 1740 he opened the "Ecole des Arts" with his architectural courses and became one of the earliest founders of schools of architecture in France, for which he was distinguished by the French Academy. Both through these couses and his works, he greatly influenced many later architects, such as Brongniart, Chalgrin, Desprez, Rondelet, as well as many other Europeans, who took Neoclassicism back with them from Paris. In 1755 he was inducted into the Académie Archtecture and he was appointed architect to Louis XV. He also contributed to the great Éncyclopédie of Diderot and d'Alembert.

The first volume of his main work deals with the design of houses, the second with exterior ornamentation and interior designs and lay-out of gardens.

Brunet I:977; Cohen-Ricci: 156-57.

Order-nr.: 26971