Libro primero de la architectura de Andrea Palladio (First book of architecture).

Andrea PALLADIO (Author)

Francisco de PRAVES (Translator)

Juan Lasso (Printer)

Origin: Valladolid, XVII c.
Biblioteca Nacional de España.

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ISBN 10:
ISBN 13:
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R/16097
Facsimile. Old Books. Collection of Incunabula and Old Books.

978-84-87988-87-5
Folio.
21,5 x 31,8 cm.
44+4 crd.
88+8 crd.
Spanish.
1625.
23rd April 2007.
3000+80+50+30
Parchment on wooden board.
Architecture.
Presentation dust jacket cloth lined with gold engraved leather spine containing facsimile.
Numbered by notary and signed by the printer-publisher.
Specially made laid paper.
Optional: Study in Spanish: author yet to be determined. Included in Bibliofilia Antigua XIII.
Many engravings of architectural structures, parts, etc.

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Synopsis:

Andrea Palladio (Padua, 30th November 1508 - Vicenza, 19th August 1580) is, altogether with Brunelleschi and Bramante, one of the most important theoretical architects of the Renaissance. In 1570, in Venice, I quatto libri dell, Architettura are edited.

Francisco de Praves, architect, King's head of workmanship in Valladolid, translated in 1625, Libro primero... que trata de cinco órdenes para fabricar y otras advertencias. He invariably dedicates his translation to the Conde Duque de Olivares. The poem dedicated to the translator of the 'Mathematic work' doctor Luis Mejía de la Cerda, is funny:

Praves, de Palladio muerto
a España, con llave de oro
le ha descubierto un tesoro 
largos siglos encubierto.
Que en él hallarás, es cierto,
(si buscarlas solicitas)
mil preciosas margaritas, 
cuyas conchas, y cortezas, 
en sí encierran más riquezas 
que letras tienen escritas"

The copy is a typical one of the Spanish edition of the XVII century. Infolio, it alternates round and italics typescript, it includes xylographic initials, and it offers, as it should be expected in a work of these characteristics, a wide range of prints. The title page , engraved, architectural, it includes apart from the royal coat of arms of the man of the inscription, the title frame and author frame and for the footer. A typical baroque image and very interesting texts on a bad mounting: the worst quality of paper of that time in Spain. 

When overlooking the long history of printing bullas (sealed religious documents) at the Valladolid monastery Nuestra Señora de Prado we encountered Joan Lasso de la Peña in 1608, a member of an important family of printers: Lasso or Laso active in Salamanca, Medina de Campo and Valladolid the last 30 years of the XVI century and first 30 years of XVII century. He was then employed by Rodrigo Calderón, who was a 'Impresor de bulas' in that monastery. His work as an independent printer took place in Valladolid from 1624 to 1630. The workshop still appeared active, headed by his wife whose name we do not know, during the years 1632 and 1633.

IBIC Rating:

AC History of art / art & design styles
AC History of art / art & design styles
ACN History of art & design styles: c 1400 to c 1600
ACND Renaissance art
AFF Drawing & drawings
AFH Prints & printmaking
AFJ Other graphic art forms
AFT Decorative arts
AMA Theory of architecture
AMX History of architecture
DNF Literary essays
DSBD Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800
HBJD European history
HBLH Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700

1D Europe
1DSE Spain
1DSEH Castilla y León, Autonomous Community
1DST Italy
2ADS Spanish
3JB c 1500 to c 1600
3JD c 1600 to c 1700