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‘De architectura’: an Irish eighteenth-century gloss
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 April 2016
Extract
A unique and eccentric translation of Vitruvius’s De architectura made in Ireland around 1770 offers an illuminating insight into the meaning and practical value of Vitruvius for builder-architects during the eighteenth century (Fig. 1). The manuscript, now in the Chester Beatty Library, is a folio volume in a magnificent red morocco and gold-leaf binding, which is considered among the finest of its kind produced in Dublin during the eighteenth century.
- Type
- Research Article
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- Copyright
- Copyright © Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain 1994
References
Notes
CBL Chester Beatty Library
IAA Irish Architectural Archive
NA National Archives
NLI National Library of Ireland
PRONI Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
RDS Royal Dublin Society
TCD Trinity College Dublin
1 CBL W. MS 192. Craig, Maurice, Irish Book Bindings (Dublin, 1976), pl. 10 Google Scholar.
2 Wills’s architectural career began in 1719 and the last records of his activities are financial accounts entered in a personal ledger in 1778: IAA 81/82.
3 McDonnell, Joseph, ‘Parliamentary Binder B Identified’, Bulletin of the Irish Georgian Society 35 (1992-93), 52–56 (P. 54)Google Scholar.
4 CBL W. MS 192: De architectura fol. 142.
5 Harris, Eileen and Savage, Nicholas, British Architectural Books and Writers 1556-1785 (Cambridge, 1990), pp. 150, 462 Google Scholar.
6 Perrault, Claude, Les dix livres d’architecture de Vitruve (Paris, 1673)Google Scholar.
7 Galiani, Marchese Bernardo, L’architettura di M. Vitruvio Pollione, colla traduzione italiana e comento del marchese Bernardo Galiani… (Naples, 1758)Google Scholar.
8 Casey, Christine, ‘Architectural books in Irish eighteenth-century libraries’, Eighteenth-Century Ireland, 3 (1991), 105–13 (p. 109)Google Scholar.
9 CBL W. MS 192: Elements p. 37.
10 CBL W. MS 192: Elements p. 35.
11 CBL W. MS 192: Elements p. 12.
12 CBL W. MS 192: De architectura p. 119.
13 CBL W. MS 192: Elements p. 8.
14 CBL W. MS 192: De architectura p. 100.
15 CBL W. MS 192: De architectura p. 63.
16 CBL W. MS 192: De architectura p. 134.
17 CBL W. MS 192: De architectura p. 103.
18 CBL W. MS 192: De architectura p. 57.
19 Newton, William, The Architecture of M. Vitruvius Pollio (London, 1771), PrefaceGoogle Scholar.
20 Ibid., p. 76, note 9.
21 Colvin, Howard, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 (London, 1978), p. 590 Google Scholar.
22 Craig, Maurice and Fitzgerald, Desmond (eds), Irish Architectural Drawings. An Exhibition to Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Irish Architectural Records Association (Dublin, 1965), p. 6 Google Scholar.
23 Casey, ‘Architectural books’, p. 109.
24 PRONI D207/20/14; NA RHK 1/1/h; TCD mun P2/19-23.
25 O’Dwyer, Frederick, Lost Dublin (Dublin, 1981), p. 137 Google Scholar. Registery of Deed 283/377/184980; 13/217/5627; 35/117/21326; 42/466/27057; and 92/219/64409.
26 IAA 81/88: personal ledger of Michael Wills containing building accounts for the erection of Dr Steevens’ Hospital.
27 IAAneg.c7/209: ‘Plan for a lock to be built on a sandy foundation designed by Captn Thomas Burgh 1728. Mich Wills delint.’; ‘Barrack for two troops of horse at Philipstown, built by the Right honble Richard Lord Viscount Molesworth. 16th June 1731. Michael Wills delint.’
28 Stockwell, La Tourette, Dublin Theatres and Theatre Customs 1637-1820 (London and New York, 1938), p. 72 Google Scholar.
29 Dublin Society minute books, 9 May 1745: RDS Library.
30 RIBA Drawings Collection: Michael Wills, ‘Designs for private buildings of two, three, four, five and six rooms on a floor and one of eight rooms. Dublin 9th May 1745’.
31 CBL W. MS 192: Elements p. 6.
32 CBL W. MS 192: De architectura p. 11.
33 CBL W. MS 192: De architectura p. 144.
34 CBL W. MS 192: De architectura p. 108.
35 CBL W. MS 192: Elements p. 30.
36 Ibid.
37 Queens University Library, Special Collections, Miscellaneous MSS, ‘A Short treatise of the city water. …’; A Scheme for enlarging Essex Bridge; whereby, not only three-fourths of the expence of a new bridge will be saved; but the Publick shall enjoy the benefit in six months. Together with a plan for a new bridge (Dublin, 1752).
38 ‘Difference between Semple’s and Willis’s plans of the hospital’: manuscript at St Patrick’s Hospital, Dublin. Information from Dr Elizabeth Malcolm, University of Liverpool, Institute of Irish Studies.
39 McParland, Edward, ‘Strategy in the Planning of Dublin 1750-1800’, in Butel, P. and Cullen, L., eds, Cities and Merchants: French and Irish Perspectives on Urban Development 1500-1900 (Dublin, 1986), pp. 97–109 Google Scholar.
40 IAA 81/88.
41 Hugh Howard, Ralph Howard’s uncle, corresponded with Sir Thomas Hewett on the subject of an English Vitruvius: NLI Howard Papers (unsorted) packing case 227.
42 NLI Howard Papers (unsorted) packing case 227: Letter dated 19 August 1769 from the Revd Holt Truell to Ralph Howard.
43 Registery of Deeds 238/377/184980.
44 Information from Charles Horton, Curator of Western Art, CBL.
45 CBL W. MS 192: De architectura pp. 129-30.
46 CBL W. MS 192: De architectura p. 144.
47 CBL W. MS 192: De architectura p. 81.
48 IAA9/33R49.
49 Aheron, John, A General Treatise of Architecture (Dublin, 1754)Google Scholar; Semple, George, A Treatise on Building in Water (Dublin, 1776)Google Scholar; NLI MS 2737 ‘An essay on artificial navigation’ by Richard Castle.
50 See Craig and Fitzgerald, Irish Architectural Drawings, and The Knight of Glin, Griffin, David and Robinson, Nicholas, Vanishing Country Houses of Ireland (Dublin, 1988), pp. 141–47 Google Scholar.
51 Breffny, Brian De and Ffolliott, Rosemary, The Houses of Ireland (London, 1975), p. 100 Google Scholar.