Author: FELIX MERITIS.- GRONDTEEKENINGEN
Title: Grondteekeningen van het gebouw der Maatschappije van verdiensten, ter spreuke voerende: Felix Meritis, opgericht te Amsterdam, volgends de plans van den bouwkunstenaar Jacob Otten Husly. / Détails d'architecture de l'édifice de la societé des arts et des sciences, ...
Description: Amsterdam, Cornelis Sebille Roos. op den Kolveniers [sic] burgwal, in het Huis van Trip. (1791). In folio. (Title and text 57 x 40 cm; plates meas. appr. 53 x 36 cm;). W. engr. plate [20 x 15 cm, cut within plate marks] "Felix meritis", inscribed over a bee-hive on a pedestal dated 1777, all this within a medallion placed against a pyramidlike needle with a woman's figure on each side. To the right a temple bathing in sunlight. Anonymous engraving. (Van Stolk V, 4268; Fr. Muller 4321). Furthermore a proof copy (?) of the front of the building of Felix Meritis (40 x 30 cm engraved surface), drawn by J.Kuyper and engr. by N. van der Meer jr., published by Roos, 1789 (Van Stolk 5017 note.). Followed by the 8 architectural engrs. of the plans of Husley, 4 unsigned and the rest by N. van der Meer, R. Vinkeles, and D. Vrydag after P. Barbiers and J. Kuyper. Text and plates loose, as issued. (1 leaf (printed title, verso blank), 4 pp. ('Avis' in Dutch and French), 4 lvs. 'Opdragt en verklaring' (A1 - (A4).). These last 4 lvs. Verso of (A4) colophon 'Te Amsterdam, by de erven van David Klippink, in de Nes'. (Partially on large paper.). (Title leaf some spots.). Cat. Rijksmuseum III, 244: Atlas van Stolk VI, 5017, also describing the proof copy of the building's facade, which, according to van Rijn, is a frontispiece for the work.: Fred. Muller, hist. platen II, 5104: The society "Felix Merites" had been founded by the engineer Willem Writs in 1776 and aimed to stimulate the interest of the general public in arts and sciences. In its day the society was said to have a 'progressive' character. The new building, designed by the architect Husley, may still be found at Keizersgracht 324 and is one of the most beautiful representations of late 18th century architecture. The building boasted a small concert hall, a "Salle de Physique", a chemical workshop, a drawing room and an observatory. The building was badly damaged by fire in 1932, but restored to its old glory. There is also a set of 4 engravings, exisiting in proofs before all letters and with all letters, depicting all the main rooms: music room, drawing room, auditorium and physics room; These prints are also available in our stock.

Keywords: archival material 18th c archives wrist