Delle case di città dei signori romani secondo la dottrina di Virtuvio esposta da D. Pietro Marquez messicano

8vo (205x130 mm). [2], XXXIX, [3], 382 pp. and VI engraved folding plates showing plans of houses. Pp. 381-382 missbound before p. 1. Woodcut vignette on the title page. Stain in the upper corner of about the first 20 ll., some scattered foxing on the ll. Contemporary marbled calf with gilt title on the spine and red edges, marbled endleaves (panels slightly worn). A very good copy.
First and only edition of this rare book on roman architecture taken from the principles of Vitruvius and written by the first Mexican historian of ancient architecture, described by Cicognara as an “opera piena d'erudizione, e ingegnosa”. Pedro Marquez was a Mexican Jesuit born in San Francisco del Rincón on February 22, 1741; he was expatriated by decree of Charles III to Italy, where he soon became known for his extensive archaeological and architectural knowledge. He was elected member of the Academies of Fine Arts in Florence, Bologna, Rome and also in Madrid. In 1816 he was able to return to Mexico, where he was appointed professor at the Colegio de San Ildefonso, a position he held until his death, which occurred in that city on 1820. He published several works, all of them in the archaeological aspect except for a writing of aesthetics On the beautiful in general, Mexico 1801. Delle case di città dei signori romani is the second publication of the author in chronological order.
Italian Union Catalogue VEAE\006624; Cicognara, 1987, nr. 557; Palau, vol. IV, nr. 66; Brunet, vol. III, nr. 1468.