Monumenti sacri e profani dell'imperiale e reale Basilica di Sant' Ambrogio in Milano rappresentati e descritti dal dottore Giulio Ferrario by Ferrario, Giulio - 1824

Milano: Dalla tipografia dell'autore, 1824. First edition. Modern quarter leather over marbled paper covered boards. Leather attached a bit awkwardly at spine ends, marbled boards rubbed and worn, edges of front board discolored from old tape removal, but binding solid, edges nicked on a few leaves, scattered foxing mainly affecting the margins, plates sharp, colors bright, a quite useful copy.. [x], [3]-224 pp., + 31 (ie 32) col. plates. Illus. with 32 plates incl. 1 engraved plan, 31 aquatints of which 7 are nicely hand-colored + handcolored engraved title page. Folio (41 cm). Plate 4* and 4 unnumbered pages inserted after p. 40. To illustrate this volume with aquatints, Ferrario chose many fine Milanese artists and engravers including V. Rainieri, Bramati, G. Alluisetti, D.K. Bonatti, Giuseppe Castellini, and A. Biasoli. Aside from the later two, the most prominent was the highly regarded theatrical set designer Alessandro Sanquirico (1774-1849) who produced 3 plates, one of the nave of the Basilica, and two works designed by Bramante d'Urbino, the presbytery and cloisters. The remaining plates are focused mainly on architectural views and the exquisite craftsmanship of the pulpit, mosaics, details, sarcophagi, and bas reliefs. Hard to find complete with hand coloring. BAL 1054, Brunet 1233.