Smaller Italian Villas & Farmhouses [WITH] More Small Italian Villas & Farmhouses

New York: Architectural Book Publishing Co, 1920. First edition. Hardcover. g. Elephant Folios. Vol.1: (6) xii, 125 plates. Vol.2: (6) xiv, 140 plates. Original 3/4 morocco over blue cloth with gilt lettering on spines. Beautiful decorative endpapers. Frontispiece photographs. Illustrated title pages. Profusely illustrated with distinctive b/w photographs and architectural sketches throughout as well as in-text drawings.

Vol.1: The smaller buildings encountered here stand in close artistic relationship to their greater and more magnificent neighbors inspired by the greatest and most famous artists of the Renaissance. "This study if the shell, of the dwellings, great and humble alike, is in itself of importance because many of the artists of the Renaissance were born in the simpler sort of surroundings we are going to study" (author). Includes study of some casinos, a number of details, e.g. gates, doorways, steps, facades, a well, etc. and a list of illustrations.

Vol.2: The book features architecture the Venetian plains showing the careful planning of the Palladian school. Since there is no authentic list of his complete work, it is difficult to judge merely by the design whether a building is by Palladio or by an apt pupil who worked with the master's book in hand. "The photographs of several of these smaller, but architecturally important buildings, are I believe, being here published for the first time" (author).

Binding rubbed and lightly bumped at corners. Spine with small tears at head and tail, some chipping and/or scuffing of leather. Small numbered stickers at the interior front covers. Some smudging from use, at times heavy, and bleeding of ink onto opposite pages and very light yellowing at the outer margins, not affecting images. Vol.2 with simple architectural drawing in pencil on verso of page 64 and some pencil notes and architectural drawings on verso of decorative endpaper in rear. Bindings and interiors in overall good condition.