Studio d’architettura is a work consisting of engravings of elevations and views of the churches and palazzi built in Rome in the late seventeenth century. Published by the sculptor and engraver Domenico de’ Rossi, the books contained unexecuted designs by Bernini and Borromini. The first volume, published in 1702, was dedicated to Pope Clement XI. A second volume followed in 1711 and was dedicated to Cardinal Francesco Acquaviva.

This was one of the books selected by the Royal Librarian, Richard Rivington Holmes, in 1893 as a fine example of bookbinding in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle.

Binding information

Bound in speckled calf, with extensive gold tooling. Central arabesque built up of floral and foliate shapes, with six-pointed stars. Cornerpieces of cross-hatch vase shape, with palmette above and foliate tooling. Roll tool of fleurs-de-lis and palmettes to border. Within inlaid brown leather panel border of flowers on stems and six-pointed stars, with blue paint around and rose tool to centre of each side. To edges is a stylised foliate roll tool. Spine divided into seven compartments, with lettering to the second, the rest with the same rose tool and foliate cornerpieces. Turn ins and edges of boards decorated with stylised foliate palmette roll tool.