LAUGIER, Marc-Antoine (1713--1769)
[Observations sur l'architecture]
Observations sur l'architecture. Par M. l'Abbe Laugier ...
A La Haye (Place), et se trouve à Paris, chez Desaint, libraire,, 1765.
xvi, 326, [2] p. ; 16.2 cm. (12º)

These reflections on reconciling Gothic with classical styles, less original than those first published in 1753 in Laugier's Essai sur l'architecture (q.v.), were inspired by his role as architectural advisor to the bishop of Amiens. For a fuller account of the book's publishing history and reception, see Wolfgang Herrmann, Laugier and eighteenth-century French theory, London 1958, pp. 11--12, 17, 150, 257--8. Page xv is misnumbered 'vx'. With a final page of errata. The final leaf (O8) is blank. See BAL, Early printed books, no. 1776. Another issue, q.v., bears the imprint of Saillant.

Copy Notes Inscribed in ink on front free-endpaper 2/ and John Soane. This is probably the copy of 'Laugier Architect.' bought at the sale of the late architect and antiquary James Cavanah Murphy (1716--1814) for 2s. on 18 December 1814 with other books and prints to the value of £27, paid by draft dated 19 December. (Spiers Box, Miscellaneous booksellers). With marginal marks of emphasis in pencil and annotations and corrections of errata in ink.

Binding C18th mottled calf, gilt-tooled spine with floral motif, marbled endpapers and edges, red morocco spine-label.

Reference Number 6469

Additional Names Murphy, James Cavanah (1716--1814)