De S. Clemente Papa et Martyre Ejusque Basilica in Urbe Roma. Libri Duo by Rondinini, Filippo

Two parts in one volume, xxxii, 428 pp. volume in Latin on St. Clement of Rome (Pope Clement I) and the medieval Basilica di San Clemente in Rome, including information on the life of the saint, a controversy surrounding the whereabouts of his remains, and the history and architecture of the basilica, indices. Illustrated with four engraved folding plates in Part II, including the façade of the basilica, interior view, and floor plan. Light browning throughout, some scattered foxing, two minor ink inscriptions of ownership to front pastedown endpaper and final printed page. 4to. Original vellum, some very minor soiling and wear to extremities. Rome (Franciscus Gonzaga) 1706. Rossetti 8895, Cicognara 3858, Olschki 17975, Ranghiasci 608. The Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano was originally built in the 4th century, converted from the home of a Roman nobleman which had briefly served as a church in the 1st century, itself built on Roman ruins destroyed in the Great Fire of 64 AD. The present basilica was built around the year 1100, and is remarkable for the survival of its Early Medieval wall paintings, its marble schola cantorum, and its extensive mosaic decoration. Pope Clement XI ordered extensive restorations be completed on the church shortly after Rondinini's volume was published; it is possible that this work helped draw the Pope's attention to the importance of the structure.

According to Rossetti's bibliography, three titles in total were written by Rondinini and published in a single volume by Gonzaga in 1706-1707. This volume is the first listed in his entry, followed by De Sanctis Martyribus Johanne et Paulo Eorumque Basilica in Urbe Roma.... and Historia Monasterii Sanctae Mariae et SS. Joannis et Pauli de Casuemario.