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Second Edition. Hard cover, crown 8vo in teal blue cloth, with an illustrated design to the front blocked in green, yellow and purple of an olive branch and grape springs, with the title in gold and author name in green. The spine shows the titles and author name and publisher all in gold, with the olive sprig in green. Back is plain. Top edge gilt. Glazed black endpapers. 26 engraved black and white illustrations throughout, as well as decorative headers, tailpieces and initial caps. **A rich description of Florentine history as told through some of the republic's iconic pieces of art and architecture. ** COLLATION: [ii-v] ,vi-x, [11-13], 14-329pp. [1]. CONDITION: Very Good Plus. Some extraneous gilding is scattered in front and rear joints. Gilt remains bright, boards are generally clean and there is minute shelf wear. Front hinge starting, but holding firm. Otherwise clean and square with no writing or signs of foxing. Pages gently age toned.**Chapters of this appreciation of the variety of Tuscan art are taken from the Author's researches through the archives of Florence's Magliabechiana Library, which would later form the basis of the National Central Library created in the 1880's after Italian unification. Named after famed antiquarian and collector Antonio Maglibechi (b. 1633- 1714), once librarian to the Medici, Dukes of Tuscany, this consisted of an assemblage of 30,000 volumes and manuscripts **British-born AUTHOR Leader Scott was the pseudonym of Lucy Emily Baxter (1837-1902), who the DNB describes as a transplanted Englishwoman who published stories and articles in the popular press from her teenage years in order to save up for a longed-for trip to Italy. She would marry another British ex-pat, and spend the next thirty-odd years living outside of Florence, writing well-considered and innovative titles on Italian Romanesque architecture, various Renaissance Italian artists and sculptors. She was elected an honorary member of the Accademia delle Belle Arti in 1882. This was her tenth book. (P. Waterhouse, "Lucy Baxter", DNB,1912 Supplement.) A momento, perhaps, for the modern tourist who wants to imagine themselves in the less frenzied age of the Grand Tour.
Ref: ARCH 9216
$145.00