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; /dessinès et gravès par George Richardson, architecte..

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Richardson, George, 1736?-1817?

Contributor:

Raley, Robert L., Former owner.

British Imprints Collection (Athenaeum of Philadelphia)

Standardized Title:

Book of ceilings, in the stile of the antique grotesque

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ceilings--Themes, motives.

Ceilings.

Decoration and ornament, Architectural--Great Britain.

Decoration and ornament, Architectural.

Mural painting and decoration--Great Britain.

Mural painting and decoration.

Architecture--Early works to 1800.

Architecture.

Mythology, Classical, in art.

Interior decoration--Great Britain.

Interior decoration.

Physical Description:

[4], ii, ii, 11, [1] p., [49] leaves of plates : chiefly ill. ; 57 cm.

Other Title:

Livre de plat-fonds, composés d'après les grotesques antiques

Livre de plat fonds

Place of Publication:

London: : Printed for the author., 1776.

Language Note:

Title page in English and French; parallel English and French texts.

Notes:

Subscriber's list: [ii] p., 2nd sequence.

Engraved dedication leaf to Lord Scarsdale.

First issued in 1774 with title: Book of ceilings in the stile of the antique grotesque.

French imprint: A Londres; : et publies au depens de l'auteur.

Includes engraved plates numbered I-XLVIII on [49] leaves representing Richardson's ceiling designs; plate XLVIII is a double leaf.

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. Cf. Bernard Quaritch Catalogue 1254, p. 70-71.

Richardson was employed as a draughtsman by the Adam brothers and, according to Charles Wood, "... more than his other works, this is in the mainstream of the Adam style."--Charles Wood Architectural Catalogue 57, #426.

The subscriber's list includes members of the royal family, the nobility and gentry, architects in Britain and abroad, and by some significant furniture makers of the period including Chippendale, Linnell, Ince, and Mayhew. Cf. Harris.

Millard states that Richardson's 'Ceilings' has the distinction of being one of the very first to be subscribed for by the Royal Academy as an institution. Cf. 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). Cf. Harris.

Local Notes:

Athenaeum copy: Gift of Robert L. Raley/Carpenters' Company Collection.

Athenaeum copy: Almost completely disbound; in limp boards; housed in modern protective box.

Athenaeum copy: Title on box: Richardson's Book of ceilings.

Athenaeum also has a copy of 1920 reprint of the 1774 edition.

Athenaeum copy: Broadside prospectus for this work laid in at front: Proposals for publishing A book of ceilings.....; Sept. 27, 1774.

Cited in:

Harris, E. Brit. architectural books and writers, 735

ESTC (RLIN), T090834

Archer, J. Literature of Brit. domestic architecture, 428.2

Berlin. Ornamentstichsammlung, 3995

Contains:

Proposals for publishing a book of ceilings.