ZANETTI, Antonio Maria - Lot 56

ZANETTI, Antonio Maria Delle antiche statue greche e romane, che nell'antisala della Libreria di San Marco, e in altri luoghi pubblici di Venezia si trovano, parte prima [-seconda] Venice, 1740-1743 SUPERB DEDICATION EXEMPLAIRE, THAT OF THE KING OF DENMARK, BINDED WITH HIS ARMS, for one of the volumes. RECTIFICATION: The arms stamped on the two volumes are different: those on the first volume correspond to those of King Christian VI of Denmark, those on the second volume have not been identified. CLASSICAL SCULPTURE IN VENICE FIRST EDITION. Dedicated to the King of Denmark. 2 folio volumes (540 x 390 mm). Titles printed in red and black. Each page of text framed. Engraved letterforms, vignettes and culs-de-lampe. COLLATION: (I): 7 ff. n. o.c., 50 ff. and 50 plates, 2 ff. n. o.c.; (II): 3 ff. n. o.c., 50 ff. and 50 plates, 1 f. n. o.c. ILLUSTRATION: a frontispiece engraved by Felicità Sartori after Giambattista Piazzetta and a portrait of the dedicatee, Cristian VI of Denmark, hors texte engraved by Marco Pitteri after Giambatista Piazzetta and 100 plates (50 per volume) drawn by the Zanetti cousins and engraved in intaglio by G. A. Faldoni, G. Cattini, G. Patrini, G. Camerata, M. A. Pitteri, and others. CONTEMPORARY BINDING. Fawn calf, gilded decoration, arms in the center of the boards, triple fillet framing, ornate ribbed spine, gilded edges. Upper cords damaged. PROVENANCE: Christian VI, King of Denmark (1699-1746; arms), dedicatee of the book. Traces of rubbing to hinges This book of statues of Venice's public buildings was produced by the Zanetti cousins: Antonio Maria Zanetti (1706-1778), librarian of San Marco, now Biblioteca Marciana, and his elder cousin, Antonio Maria Zanetti (1679-1767), engraver and collector of antique gems and medals. Among the hundred figures represented, that of the four horses of San Marco, engraved by Giovanni Antonio Faldoni and Giovanni Cattini, is a masterpiece. "This work marks an important stage in the development of neoclassical taste in Venice" (Blackmer). BIBLIOGRAPHY : Cicognara 3565 -- Berlin Kat. 4208 -- Blackmer 1868