Priestley and Weale
[Catalogue. 1825]
Bibliotheca architectonica. A catalogue of books on the fine arts, arranged in twelve classes, as a manual for the use of the architect, engineer, student, and amateur; in which are included works on the theory and practice of painting and sculpture, in the possession of Priestley and Weale, High-Street, Bloomsbury. ...
London (Place), [printed by Thomas Davison],, 1825.
xv, [1], 189, [1] p. ; 19 cm. (8°)

The preliminary 'Advertisement' is signed and dated 'J.W. High-street, Bloomsbury, May, 1825.' Printer's imprint from final page. The subjects of the twelve 'classes' are gothic architecture; engineering; the works of Piranesi; ornament; theatres; picturesque architecture; carpentry; miscellaneous architecture; naval architecture; painting and sculpture; and perspective. By now the plan to publish 'Architectural Remains in Rome, Pola, and Naples' has been dropped, the fourteen very large engravings after Clérisseau ('1 foot 11 inches by 2 foot 6 inches') being listed separately at 7s. each (see pp. 72--73; a proof impression of 'Ancient Circular Roman Edifice, near the Port of Cumae' is offered at 10s. 6d). The following note indicates that Priestley and Weale's long promised biography of Piranesi, however, is still very much alive: 'The Life of this extraordinary man is preparing for publication. It is composed from family papers formerly in the possession of Mr. Peter Piranesi, now residing in Paris, as a teacher of languages, and several documents collected by one of the Publishers of this Catalogue, with some correspondence given by Mr. Milne, of the New River Head, to whose liberality the publishers are indebted for this and other favors. The whole are arranging by Mr. Thomas Leverton Donaldson, Arch. who will add to the work a particular account and collation of the whole of the works.' (p. 37). Another work 'preparing for publication' and described in some detail here is 'Soane's ... Whole Works: ... a Series of Plans, Elevations , Sections, and Views of his Principal Architectural Works. This Work will consist of 100 Engravings, illustrative of the New Buildings of the Bank of England - those attached to the Houses of Parliament - the Law Courts - two or three Private Mansions - a Theatre - a Church -a Bridge - Galleries, &c. The work will be printed in quarto, and will include, besides explanations and descriptions of each separate Edifice, interesting historical facts and anecdotes of some Ancient Buildings which have been superseded by the New Works, or are immediately connected with them. The plates will be mostly engraved in outline by J. Le Keux, and other Architectural Engravers, from measured drawings made from the buildings, as executed. The work will form one large volume, and will be published in four separate parts, at 30s. each, small paper, and 2 guineas large paper.' (p. 91). The fact that this project had its origin in Soane's need to defend his recent work at the Law Courts (1823--24) is betrayed by Weale's remark in a footnote on p. xiii that it would 'serve as a refutation to his calumniators.'

Copy Notes Unannotated.

Binding Contemporary C19th half calf, marbled-paper boards, recent plain spine. Numbered '63' in a series of sale catalogue volumes.

Reference Number 3084

Additional Names Weale, John (1791--1862)