[Rarebooks] FS: 1813 Florence - Duomo, Pietre Dure in Chapel of Princes

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

"Descrizione della gran capella Delle Pietre Dure e della Sagrestia
Vecchia eretta da Filippo di ser Brunellesco situate ambedue nell’ Imp.
Basilica di S. Lorenzo di Firenze"

By Domenico Moreni. Printed in Firenze (Florence) by Presso Carli e Comp.
in 1813.

A description of the history and pietre dure decoration of the Chapel of
the Princes and the interior of the Sagresta Vecchia in Florence. The
fabulous ‘Chapel’, whose interior is decorated with the most beautiful and
intricate stone mosaic work, was begun by Grand Duke Ferdinando I, who had
also founded the famous Galleria delle Lavori at the Uffizi. The Galleria
quickly became the most important workshop in the world for the production
of the highest quality pietre dure, mosaic and intarsia work in
semi-precious stone. The Chapel itself was a massive undertaking which
took several generations to complete.

As Giusti writes in “Pietre Dure, Hardstone in Furniture and Decorations”
(1992)- “(A) great project left unrealized by Ferdinando’s two
predecessors, the dynastic mausoleum at S. Lorenzo, was begun. This was to
take the grandiose and majestic form of a temple entirely sheathed in
pietre dure. The enormous scale of the work planned for this ‘Chapel of
the Princes’, and the intense activity of the manufactory, called for
great reserves of the most rare and varied stones. Indeed, Ferdinando
amassed such great quantities that they fed the Galleria for centuries
–and are not exhausted today”.

The other subject of this survey, the Sagresta Vecchi, or Old Sacristy, is
the oldest part of the present Basilica of San Lorenzo (the “Duomo”), and
contains the tombs of several members of the Medici family. A scarce book.

Softcover. 6”x8.5”, viii + 152 pages; 1 engraved plate; bound in old
period plain paper; covers with general wear, a little soil, paper cover
perished on the spine. Contents with a little soil and foxing, binding
generally loose. Housed in a new clamshell case.   $750.00

Some Pictures =>

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