Fontana - Templum Vaticanum - 1694

Fontana Carlo

Templum Vaticanum et ipsius Origo

Rome - 1694 -
Giovanni Francesco Bagni

(16) c, 489,(1) p, (14) c.
In imperial folio - 46 X 32 cm. -

“THE MOST STRIKING DOCUMENT DEDICATED TO THE HISTORY OF THE SAN PIETRO COMPLEX”.
CICOGNARA 3731

FIRST rare and highly esteemed edition of this powerful and monumental work by Carlo Fontana (1634/1714), COMPLETE with 79 large plates out of text, of which 10 folding, all drawn and signed by Carlo Fontana and engraved by Alessandro Specchi.

A splendid example in burnished bindings (46 X 32 cm.)

“This grand and magnificent work, divided with fine order and rich in excellent and numerous large plates of fine drawing and clear engraving, by the hand of Alessandro Specchi, who engraved the things of this kind very well, is the most complete that has existed regarding the history and construction of this supreme building.
The edition could not be more noble and accurate”.
CICOGNARA 3731
BRUNET II, 1329
FOWLER 122
BERLIN KAT 2678
MILLARD, Italian Books 38

The work is divided into 7 books.

The first book deals with the ancient site of Saint Peter;

the second describes the basilica built by Emperor Constantine in 320 AD;

in the third book the transport of the obelisk in 1585 is documented, and its erection in Saint Peter’s Square;

the fourth book illustrates the square and Bernini’s colonnade;

the fifth book is a detailed study of the building of Saint Peter’s;

the sixth book proposes the cost of Saint Peter’s compared with that of Solomon’s Temple;

the seventh and last book is devoted to a comparative study of Saint Peter’s, the Pantheon, and the Cathedral of Florence.

“The Templum Vaticanum caused a stir in the world of contemporary art; it was ardently discussed, for example in correspondence from the director of the French Academy in Rome for the following two years.
The publication was an ambitious visual, intellectual and typographic undertaking.”
(MILLARD).

This astonishing production was commissioned by the Sacred Congregation for the Fabric of Saint Peter to justify the expenses incurred for the reconstruction of the Basilica.

Carlo Fontana worked with Pietro da Cortona and Bernini.
Probably thanks to the close collaboration with Bernini, Fontana obtained in 1664 the prestigious position of “measurer of the Reverenda Fabrica di S. Pietro,” and about two years later, together with Felice Della Greca, that of “second measurer and estimator of all the buildings of the Apostolic Camera in Rome and in the State of the Church.”

Through a wonderful series of engravings executed by Alessandro Specchi, starting from Fontana’s own drawings, the volume retraces the design history of the Vatican Basilica from its origins, when it was erected by the will of Emperor Constantine at the tomb of the Apostle Peter and on the site of the old Nero’s Circus, up to the end of the 17th century.

Huge, beautiful and intact 18th-century half-leather binding with corners and boards in marbled calf.
Splendid large label in red morocco on the robust spine, with author and title gold-stamped, as well as elegant gold decorations and gilt fillets.
Perfect preservation.

Internals generally very well preserved, with very strong and fresh papers with wide margins and splendid burnish.
In this regard, most of the few copies in circulation report smaller dimensions due to trimming, whereas this burnished copy preserves original page sizes.
Contains 2 frontispieces (Latin and Italian) with engravings of papal coats of arms, in addition to 79 wonderful plates (of which 10 are folding), all in perfect condition, including the folding plates, despite the extensive spans of over 100 cm.
Note a marginal moisture stain with spotting on the last pages of the registry and Index.
The stain extends, very slightly and always marginally, to the last 3/4 plates of the text, brushing the engraving (see last photos).
Other sporadic, small, and light stains on some other pages of the text.
Text and engraving, however, perfectly usable
Guard sheets preserved.

Excellent and rare copy, complete and original in every part.
COLLATED. COMPLETE
Shipping weight 11 kg.