Description Of The Chapel Of The Annunziata Dell'Arena; Or, Giotto's Chapel, In Padua. By Mrs. Callcott.

Lady Maria Callcott

RA Collection: Book

Record number

06/4947

Author

Lady Maria Callcott

Imprint

London:: Printed For The Author, By Thomas Brettell, Rupert Street, Haymarket. -, MDCCCXXXV.

Physical Description

[4], 18, [2] p., frontis.: illus.; 377 mm. (Folio.)

[Frontis., t.p.] - Advertisement; Postscript - [Text, with illus.]; [colophon].

Responsibility Note

The frontispiece is signed as sketched by 'P P' and lithographed by M Callcott. The in-text wood-engravings are unsigned, but the Postscript by 'A.W.C.' (i.e. Augustus Wall Callcott?) states that they were taken from his drawings.

The text-printer's name is repeated in the colophon.

References

On the revival of interest in early Renaissance art see the bibliographic note on W.Y. Ottley, A Series Of Plates ... Of The Early Florentine School (1826). On Lady Callcott see R.B. Gotch, Maria, Lady Callcott, the creator of 'Little Arthur' (1937).

Summary Note

The book marks the renewed interest in Giotto in the nineteenth century. The painter had been highly esteemed in his lifetime, but from the time of Vasari had been regarded as mainly of historical importance. Maria Callcott's appreciation would be carried forward by such critics as Passavant, Ruskin and Berenson.

The Advertisement by 'M.C.' states that the text 'is drawn up from notes made on the spot, in November 1827'. The greater part of it describes 'Padua. - Giotto's Chapel'. This is followed by short accounts of 'Church Of The Eremitani Dell'Arena', 'The Great Town Hall At Padua, Commonly Called The Salone' and 'The Great Church Of St. Anthony, At Padua'.

The frontispiece is captioned and shows an exterior view of 'Giotto's Chapel Padua 1834'. The illustrations are outline drawings showing an overview and details of paintings executed by Giotto in the Cappella degli Scrovegni at Padua about 1305; which depict the lives of the Virgin and of Christ. The last illustration shows a painting in the Town Hall of Padua.

Provenance

A preliminary leaf is inscribed in ink, 'Presented to the Royal Academy by Mrs Callcott 1835 G.J. Libⁿ'.

Binding Note

19th-century half calf, brown embossed cloth-covered boards; rebacked in 20th century, retaining some of earlier spine-piece, lettered 'Giotto's Chapel In Padua'.

Name as Subject

Giotto
Jesus Christ
Mary Blessed Virgin, Saint

Subject

Bible, N.T., Gospels
Christian art and symbolism - Saints
Paintings, Italian - Frescoes - Narrative art - Church decoration and ornament - Churches - Chapels - Italy - Padua - Cappella degli Scrovegni nell'Arena - History - 14th century
Art history - Great Britain - 19th century
Pictorial works - Lithographs - Wood engravings - Great Britain - 19th century

Contributors

Giotto, source artist
Lady Maria Callcott, lithographer, publisher, previous owner, donor
Sir Augustus Wall Callcott RA, draughtsman
Thomas Brettell, printer