MILIZIA, Francesco (1725--1798)
[Le vite de' più celebri architetti. French. 1771]
Vies des architectes anciens et modernes, qui se sont rendues célebres chez les différentes nations. Traduites de l'Italien, & enrichies de notes historiques & critiques. Par M. Pingeron, captaine d'artillerie, & ingénieur au service de Pologne. ...
A Paris (Place), chez Claude-Antoine Jombert, fils aíné, libraire,, 1771.
2 vols ; 16.7 cm. (12º)
I: [2], iv, lxxxiv, 420 p.
II; [2], 545, [3] p.

This French translation by Pingeron of the biographical sections of Francesco Milizia's Le vite de' più celebri architetti, Rome 1768 (q.v.) omits any mention of the author's name. (See notes to BAL, Early printed books, no. 2129.) Pingeron's preface includes (pp. iii--xvi) a translation of Sir William Chambers' account of the origin and history of architecture from his Treatise on Civil Architecture (1759). Engraved head-piece to dedication by Gabriel de St. Aubin. Soane was presented with a copy of the English edition of Milizia's Vite by its translator Mrs Cresy when it was published in 1826 under the title The lives of celebrated architects, ancient and modern (q.v.).

Copy Notes Volume I inscribed in ink on front free-endpaper John Soane/ The Escurial described in/ discours sur les Monumens/ p. 88. Front pastedown inscribed in pencil Edinburgh/ Quarterly Review. Reference to F. Colonna/ auteur du songe/ de Polyphile inscribed in ink on rear free-endpaper. Margin pencil markings throughout. Volume II inscribed in ink on front free-endpaper John Soane/ 1800. Reference to "La chainette" pertaining to vaults inscribed in ink on rear free-endpaper. Some marginal page references and measurements in ink.

Binding Early C19th sprinkled calf, gilt double-rule borders, black spine-labels. Bound by Peter Low for 3s., 5 March 1807. (Spiers Box).

Reference Number 2790

Additional Names Low, Peter, bookbinder; Chambers, Sir William (1723--1796) - In verse; Pingeron, Jean Claude (1730--1795)