Author: CAPRA, Alessandro
Title: La Nuova Architettura Famigliare Di Alessandro Capra, Architetto, e Cittadino Cremonese Divisa in cinque Libri corrispondenti a'cinque Ordini, cioè Toscano, Dorico, Ionico, Corintio, E Composito. All'illustrissimo Signor Co. Givseppe Filippo Calderini.
Description: In Bologna, Per Giacomo Monti. Con Licenza de' Superiori, 1678. 4to. W. woodc. floral ornament on title, woodc. portrait of Capra [leaf iv, verso], 44 woodcut pls. (numbered 1 - 44 in Book 5), numerous woodc. textills. throughout the book, 2 folding woodcuts between p. 130 - 131, 308 - 309 (this folding plate some imperfections on the folds). Some woodc. initials. W. added general title page [prel. lf. +3] and separate title pages to the 5 books within woodcut architectural borders. Contemp. full vellum, top of spine rest. w. small piece of vellum. W. black title shield, gilt lettered, two small corners miss., no loss of letters. (187 lvs.; VIII, 366 (pp. 365 - 366 index) pp.). (Paste down endp. somewhat browned, turn ins some chips; inner upper hinge weakening, idem lower hinge split, bookblock loosening.; occasionally some foxed spots, some 30 lvs. somewhat browned.). First edition. Fowler Architecture Coll., item 79, pp. 65 - 66: 'The added title pages of the 5 books are within architectural borders, the title within a type ornament border. The division into books corresponding to the orders is entirely symbolic; the emphasis being placed on construction and mechanics. The illustrations for the most part in the text are included in the pagination, but the particularly interesting full-page plates of Book V, on machines, are also numbered 1 - 44. The first folding plate gives a method for drawing a broken pediment, the second a machine for irrigating fields. The woodcuts are clear but crude.': Berlin, Ornamentstichsammlung, item 2752: Riccardi vol. I, 234: Michel & Michel, Repertoire, vol. II, p. 38: Cicognara, item 461: Alessandro Capra [ab. 1610 - 1683] architect and engineer from Cremona. This superbly illustrated manual is divided into 5 books, each concentrating on a specific aspect of the physical world around us, building, construction and design and the furthering of knowledge relevant to these matters by applying geometry, astronomy and the construction of a large variety of machines, many of which were especially designed and built by Capra himself. Among other things Capra discusses the management of arable land, its produce, the planting of trees and crops, the measurement of buildings and land, the calculation of distances and volumes [the 1st folding plate between pp. 130 - 131 depicting...]. Volume 4 on geometry, the use of the flow of water, by means of dikes, the solution to corroding river banks, especially of the River Po, surveying and hydraulic engineering in general. Book 5 is usually cited as the most important part, seeing that it is entirely devoted to machines. Described and depicted are devices for lifting water from a stream and irrigating land [see the 2nd fold. plate on pp. 308/9], a cold storage room [early refrigerating], a (water) wheel powered by horse power or by hand. All devices, wheels, carts, constructions, pulleys, etc. abundantly and clearly depicted in often half- or full page woodcut illustrations of a slightly crude but charming nature. A very good copy.

Keywords: b bouwkunde Brk