PIRANESI, Giambattista (1720-1778) - Le rovine del castello dell'Acqua Giulia situato in Roma presso S. Eusebio e falsamente detto dell'Acqua Marcia colla dichiarazione di uno de' celebri passi del Comentario frontiniano e sposizione della maniera con cui gli antichi romani distribuivan le acque per uso della città. [Rome]: si vendono presso l'autore alla Trinità de' Monti, [in Roma: nella stamperia di Generoso Salomoni, 1761].   A fine uncut copy of Piranesi's work dedicated to the ruins of the castle of the ancient aqueduct of Acqua Giulia, located on the Esquiline. Piranesi confirms his thoughts on the greatness of the Roman civilization whose buildings are always aimed at the public good which remains the main value and which comes before general aesthetics. The work is also important for the investigation of the water distribution systems. In the present copy an unnumbered plate appears under plate IV, the engraving of which was then reused on the title of the work "Lapides Capitolini" published the following year in 1762. The same engraving is mentioned in the Morgan Library copy and is described as "on verso of a proof state of Plate 4, figure 2".   Folio grande (592 x 433mm). Half-title, engraved title, 26 pp. of text, 19 engraved numbered plates on 18 leaves and an unnumbered plate placed under plate IV and not present in the digitized copies of the Universities of Heidelberg and Yale, on watermarked paper with fleur-de-lys within a double circle sometimes surmounted by a letter, 4 finely engraved head-and-tail pieces signed in the plate by Piranesi (light soiling, text margins slightly browned, some plates, especially at the end, with some waterstains, foxing, internal margin often reinforced). Later orange boards, uncut (some wear and chips heavier on spine, later guards).

Estimate € 1,200 - 1,800

Sold € 2,600