First edition of Philandrier's commentary on Vitruvius. An important early text in the critical reception of Vitruvius, and a major influence on Daniele Barbaro's commentary. Philandrier’s work includes substantial quotations from Vitruvius, including some emendations of the standard text.
The humanist Philandrier (1505-1565) had been a pupil of Sebastiano Serlio in Paris. He had this work printed while he was on a diplomatic mission in Venice (1535-39) and later Rome (1540-45) as secretary to Bishop Georges d'Armagnac (later Cardinal). There is a famous portrait of him and the bishop painted by Titian (one of the earliest Titians to come to England, acquired by the Duke of Buckingham in 1624, and now in the Duke of Northumberland’s collection at Alnwick castle). In Italy, Philandrier was able to discuss his findings on Vitruvius with contemporary scholars such as Pirro Ligorio and Claudio Tolomei, and architects and artists such as Antonio and Giovan Battista da Sangallo, and the young Vignola.
Philandrier’s work consists of Latin commentary on the antique text in the form of notes distributed in books and chapters. Philandrier’s annotations, in italics, are preceded by extracts from Vitruvius printed in capital letters. Philandrier also corrects the text of the edition of the De architectura that he is using (as it happens, the Florentine edition of 1522), which seems corrupt to him. This is the first work in which Vitruvius's name appears in the form that henceforth was the accepted way to refer to him, Marcus Vitruvius Pollio.
The binding is interesting as it shows a corner tool which is very similar to one used by the so-called Mendoza Binder (Andrea di Lorenzo); see Hobson, Renaissance Book Collecting, fig. 83.
Provenance: Mss ownership inscription by the Swedish ‘castle bailiff’ of Upsala, Jonas Hellvik (1711-1792) on title-page.
Paper flaw at foot of L7, V8 torn at foot.
Cicognara 708. RIBA, Early printed Books, no. 2516. Edit16 34749.
