2 options
The villas of the ancients illustrated. / By Robert Castell..
Athenaeum of Philadelphia - British Imprints Oversize 1728 Castell
Available in person
Request an item
Access options
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Castell, Robert.
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Architecture, Domestic--Italy.
- Architecture, Domestic.
- Architecture, Domestic--Rome.
- Architecture, Roman--Early works to 1800.
- Architecture, Roman.
- Gardens, Roman--Early works to 1800.
- Gardens, Roman.
- Gardens--England--Early works to 1800.
- Gardens.
- Country homes--Rome--Early works to 1800.
- Country homes.
- Physical Description:
- [8], 128, [2] p., [22] leaves of plates (some folded) : ill., plans ; 53 cm. (fol.)
- Place of Publication:
- London: : Printed for the author., MDCCXXVII. [1728]
- Notes:
- Text in English and Latin.
- Index: [2] p., final sequence.
- Errata: p. [2] at end.
- "A list of subscribers": p. [7]-[8]
- Dedication to Sir Richard Earl of Burlington is on p. [3]-[4].
- Errors in pagination: p. 81 and 82 misnumbered as 57 and 58.
- Castell was the first to reconstruct ancient villas and gardens from descriptions left by contemporary historians; this work was particularly important in its influence on garden design and was instrumental in facilitating the transition from formal to landscape garden. Cf. Fowler.
- "In three parts; Part I & III contain the Latin text and an English translation, printed in parallel columns with commentary below, of 'Plato Gallus' and 'Pliny to Apollinaris'- Part II contains a description of 'The villas of Varro Columella, &c.' in English only."--ESTC.
- Work is the "subscriber's edition", and is one of two variants noted in this 1st edition of title; variant has been reported with first 4 pages of "Remarks on Laurentinum" shortened to 2 p.; another edition issued in 1728 was considered the "trade edition" as it was lacking subscriber's list and contained only English text.
- "Unlike the archaeological researches carried out by later generations, Castell's approach was literary: he analyzed texts describing Pliny's two villas, and brought in relevant material from Varro, Columella, Cato, Vitruvius and Palladius. His analysis and reconstructions of Roman villas were inaccurate, partly as a result of his literary approach, and partly because he sought too eagerly for proportionality, regularity and symmetry, qualities more important to the eighteenth-century architects, than to the builders of Roman villas."--Archer, p. 250.
- Archer notes that is spite of Castell's "literary approach" to his subject, his research was signficant for 18th century domestic architecture because it established fundamental characteristics of villa design and function.
- A copy of this book was known to be in the library of Thomas Jefferson. Cf. Beale, W.B. Jefferson's Fine Arts Library, p. 47.
- Head and tail pieces; initials; engraved vignettes.
- Some plates are on double leaves.
- [13] plates on 22 leaves include plans, elevations and conjectural reproductions of villas of the estates of Laurentinum and Tuscum; plates drawn by T. Wilson and P. Tuckey and engraved by P. Fourdrinier; head and tail pieces and vignettes engraved by G. King (Cf. Harris).
- Local Notes:
- Athenaeum copy: Gift of Robert L. Raley/Carpenters' Company Collection.
- Athenaeum copy: With bookplate of William Fullarton on front paste-down.
- Athenaeum also has copy of "trade edition" which lacks subscriber's list and has text in English only.
- Athenaeum copy: Bound in contemporary full leather; gilt stamping on spine.
- Athenaeum copy: Binder's title: The villas of the ancien.
- Cited in:
- Fowler, 81
- ESTC(RLIN), T050805
- Berlin. Ornamentstichsammlung, 1875
- Park, H. List of architectural books, 6
- Harris, E. Brit. architectural books and writers, 108
- Archer, J. Literature of Brit. domestic architecture, 36.1
- Schimmelman, J. Architectural books in early America, 9
- Millard Collection. British architectural books, 11
- Park, Helen. A list of architectural books available in America before the revolution, 6
The Penn Libraries is committed to describing library materials using current, accurate, and responsible language. If you discover outdated or inaccurate language, please fill out this feedback form to report it and suggest alternative language.