Richardson, George, 1736?-1817?, A book of ceilings , MDCCLXXXI [1776]
- Title(s):
- A book of ceilings : composed in the style of the antique grotesque / designed and etched by George Richardson, architect = Livre de plat-fonds : composés d'après les grotesques antiques / dessinés et gravés par George Richardson, architecte.
- Additional Title(s):
Livre de plat-fonds, composés d'après les grotesques antiques
Book of ceilings, in the stile of the antique grotesque- Published/Created:
- London : Printed for the author, MDCCLXXXI [1776]
- Physical Description:
- [2], ii, ii, 11, [5] pages, [50] leaves of plates : chiefly illustrations ; 57 cm
- Holdings:
- Rare Books and ManuscriptsFolio A 2016 86 Copy 2Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection[Request]Rare Books and ManuscriptsFolio A 2016 86 Copy 1Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection[Request]
- Copyright Status:
- Copyright Not Evaluated
- Full Orbis Record:
- http://hdl.handle.net/10079/bibid/5522538
- Classification:
- Books
- Notes:
- Includes list of subscribers, [ii] pages, 2nd sequence.
First issued in 1774 with title: Book of ceilings in the stile of the antique grotesque.
Abbey, J.R. Life in England in aquatint and lithography, 1770-1860, 56
French imprint: "A Londres; et publiés au depens de l'auteur."
Includes engraved dedication leaf to Lord Scarsdale and engraved plates numbered I-XLVIII representing Richardson's ceiling designs; plate XLVIII is a double leaf.
English short title catalogue, T90834
"Richardson's designs were inspired by fragments of painted and stucco ceilings in Rome and Naples which we had studied with James Adam on the Grand Tour from 1760-1763."-- Bernard Quaritch Catalogue 1254, p. 70-71.
Richardson's 'Ceilings' has the distinction of being one of the very first to be subscribed for by the Royal Academy as an institution. See: Millard Architectural Collection, British books, p. 256.
Plates are uncolored; apparently copies "could be had with the figures painted, the ornaments and mouldings shaded and touched up like finished drawings" for 48 guineas (1 guinea a plate): See: Harris.
Plates 1-6 are unnumbered and unsigned, with measurements in manuscript. Plates 7-12 numbered at top in manuscript and signed by hand: G. Richardson Ft. Measurements in manuscript. Plates XIII to XLII with engraved numbering, signatures and measurements. Plates XLIII to XLVIII with engraved numbering, signatures, measurements and imprint "Published as the Act Directs 1776," the last plate with additional date of 29th June.
Harris, E. British architectural books and writers, 735
English short title catalogue, T090834
Archer, J. British domestic architecture, 428.2
Katalog der Ornamentstichsammlung der Staatlichen Kunstbibliothek, Berlin, 3995
BAC: British Art Center copy 1 is the Abbey copy. All plates are handcolored. Bound in contemporary red half calf and marbled boards. Armorial bookplate: William Charles de Meuron, Earl FitzWilliam.
BAC: British Art Center copy 2 is uncolored. Bound in half calf and brown cloth. Bookplate: Richard Blackett Beaumont. - Subject Terms:
- Architecture -- Early works to 1800.Architecture.Beaumont, Richard Blackett -- Bookplate.Ceilings -- Themes, motives.Decoration and ornament, Architectural -- Great Britain.Fitzwilliam, William Charles de Meuron, Earl, 1872–1943 -- Bookplate.Great Britain.Interior decoration -- Great Britain.Mural painting and decoration -- Great Britain.Mythology, Classical, in art.
- Form/Genre:
- Early works.
Etchings -- Hand-colored -- 1776.
Etchings -- 1776.
Subscribers' lists -- England -- 18th century. - Export:
- XML