[Rarebooks] FS: 1813 Book- Pietre Dure @ Sagrerstia Vecchia Basilica San Lorezno Florence

[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.
Published in 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; contents 
with a little soil and foxing. Housed in a new clamshell case. 
[387/31279]  $125 net

Some Pictures =>
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JOSLIN HALL RARE BOOKS, ABAA
Fine books of the 16th-20th centuries
on the decorative and fine arts & design

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