Lot 72: RUGGIERI, Ferdinando (c. 1691-1741). Studio d'architettura civile sopra gli ornamenti di porte, e finestre ... tratte da alcune fabbriche insigni di Firenze . Florence: Stamperia Reale, Gio. Gaetano Tartini and Santi Franchi, 1722-1728.

RUGGIERI, Ferdinando (c. 1691-1741). Studio d'architettura civile sopra gli ornamenti di porte, e finestre ... tratte da alcune fabbriche insigni di Firenze . Florence: Stamperia Reale, Gio. Gaetano Tartini and Santi Franchi, 1722-1728. 3 volumes, 2° (473 x 357mm). Engraved additional titles by Bernardo Sansone Sgrilli and [?]Teodoro Ver Cruys after Ruggieri and engraved titles. 237 engraved plates by Ruggieri and Mogalli after Ruggieri, 3 double-page. Woodcut initials. (Occasional, generally marginal, light spotting or marking.) Contemporary stained sheep gilt, boards panelled in gilt, spines gilt in compartments, gilt morocco lettering-pieces in one, speckled edges (a little rubbed and scuffed, spine-ends chipped, unobtrusive worming, principally on spines, vol. I rear free endpaper excised). Provenance : Maria Chiara Billi del Riccio (early inscriptions, obscured by cancel slips in vols I and III) -- Conti della Gherardesca (according to pencilled note in vol.I) -- Maria Ludovica Borromeo Arese and Massimiliano Favia del Core (bookplates) -- [sale, Christie's London, 3 April 1996, lot 197]. FIRST EDITION. RUGGIERI'S RARE SURVEY OF THE ARCHITECTURE OF FLORENCE. Ruggieri's first major architectural commission was the remodelling of the façade of S. Filippo Neri (or Chiesa Nuova), Florence in c. 1715, which was followed by a commission from the Medici family to remodel the church of S. Felicità, Florence in 1736-1739 (the present work is dedicated to Gian Gastone de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany). Concurrent with this, Ruggieri also rebuilt the Palazzo Sansedoni, Siena and the Collegiata Church, Empoli, and published a number of architectural works illustrated by his engravings, of which Studio d'architettura civile is the most remarkable and highly-regarded. The inspiration for this comprehensive survey of Florentine architecture was Domenico de' Rossi's Studio d'architettura civile sopra gli ornamenti di porte e finestre tratti da alcune fabbriche insigni de Roma (Rome: 1702-1721); Ruggieri followed de' Rossi's title and also arranged the work in a similar format, with an elevation of the building preceding plates of architectural details and plans. However, Ruggieri's 'achievement is ultimately greater, since he succeeded in publishing 237 illustrative plates in less than half the period needed by de' Rossi; and Ruggieri's work was almost entirely drawn and engraved by his own hand' (RIBA 3197; of the plates, the only work not by Ruggieri is the engraving of the figures in two plates by Mogalli). This copy does not include Ruggieri's map of the city of Florence dated 1731 which is present in one of the British Architectural Library's sets; RIBA suggests that this was probably included in later issues of this edition, before its integration into the second edition of 1755. If this is correct, this set is an early issue of the first edition (this set also has the three 'Catalogo' leaves bound in at the front of their respective volumes, while RIBA proposes that they were all bound at the end of volume III in later issues of the work). THE WORK IS RARE AT AUCTION; only three other complete sets are recorded at auction by ABPC since 1975. Brunet IV, 1455; Cicognara 639; RIBA 2877. (3)

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