2 - Architecture

Architecture Ryff, Walther Hermann Bawkunst, or Architecture, Covering All the Most Distinguished and Essential Mathematical and Mechanical Arts (...) for a Proper Understanding of Vitruvius’s Teachings, Divided into Three Distinguished Volumes. With an allegorical frontispiece (on fol. i verso), more than 160 woodcuts—some full-page—as well as a printer’s mark and several initials in woodcut. Basel, Heinrich Petri, 1582. Large 4°. iiii (title, dedication Preface), dlj (1, printer’s mark) p. Contemporary half-leather binding over four bands with blind-stamped double fillet on the covers (stained and rubbed, with handwritten date; protected in a new cardboard slipcase). Third edition of Ryff’s richly illustrated treatise on art theory based on Vitruvius. - VD 16 R 4003. - Fowler 227. - Ornamentstichkat. Bln. 4688. - Cf. Adams I, 986 and BM STC, German Books, p. 763 (for the first edition of 1547). - Written by the Strasbourg humanist Walther Hermann Ryff (c. 1500–48), who in the same year became the first to translate Vitruvius’s classical treatise on architecture into German and provide additional commentary, the work deals with perspective, geometry, and architecture, as well as related fields useful for military purposes, such as gunsmithing, ballistics, artillery, fortification, the art of war and surveying, and furthermore, scales and weights. - The woodcuts, attributed to P. Flötner, G. Pencz, V. Solis, H. Brosamer, and E. Schön, among others, are based on the first edition of Ryff’s *Baukunst* from 1547 and depict mathematical and geometric figures, floor plans, architectural elements, artillery pieces, measuring instruments, and much more. They are “mainly based on the 1521 Como edition (of Vitruvius’s work, note), but many of the same plates were used in Ryff’s *Bawkunst* (1582)” (Fowler). - Title page in red and black with an ornate initial letter decorated with foliage. - The book block shows waterstains throughout the lower third and, in places, old mold spots; in some areas, it has slight browning and mildew stains; the edges and, in part, the outer margin at the top in the last third show traces of gall ink; a few leaves have slight grease spots. The endpapers have small ink spots (both) and a owner’s note (verso). Architecture. - Third edition of Ryff’s profusely illustrated work on art and architecture based on Vitruvius, featuring an allegorical frontispiece, more than 160 woodcut illustrations (some full-page), as well as the printer’s mark and several woodcut initials. Bound in contemporary vellum (soiled, but protected by a new slipcase). - For references, see above. - Written by the Strasbourg humanist Walther Hermann Ryff (c. 1500–48), who was the first to translate and annotate Vitruvius’s classical treatise on architecture into German in the same year, the work deals with perspective, geometry, and architecture, but also with related fields of particular military use, such as gunsmithing, ballistics, artillery, fortification, the art of war, and measurement, as well as scales and weights. - The splendid woodcuts, attributed to P. Flötner, G. Pencz, V. Solis, H. Brosamer, and E. Schön, among others, are based on the first edition of this work from 1547 and depict mathematical and geometric figures, floor plans, building components, artillery, measuring instruments, and much more. They are “mainly based on the 1521 Como edition (of Vitruvius’s work, note), but many of the same plates were used in Ryff’s *Bawkunst* (1582)” (Fowler). - Title page in red and black with an ornamented initial decorated with tendrils. - Book block water-stained throughout and with some old foxing in the lower third; in parts, there is some browning; the edges and part of the outer margin at the top in the last third show traces of gallus ink; some leaves have slight grease stains. Endpapers with ink spots (both) and an owner’s note (verso).