Some Account Of The Cathedral Church Of Exeter. Illustrative Of The Plans, Elevations, And Sections, Of That Building.
RA Collection: Book
Record number
05/193
Imprint
(Sumptibus Soc. Antiquar., Londini.: Publish'd according to Act of Parliament 24th April 1797.)
Physical Description
[2], 22 p., XI pl. (incl. add. engr. t.-pl. and 3 dble. pl.); 649 mm.
General Note
The double plates are nos. II, IV, V. In some copies the added engr. t.-pl. (pl. I) is bound in before the title page.
Contents
[T.p.] - Introduction - Some Remarks On The Original Foundation and Construction Of The Present Fabric Of Exeter Cathedral. By C. Lyttelton, 1754. - Observations On Bishop Lyttelton's Account Of Exeter Cathedral. By Sir H.C. Englefield, F.S.A. - Plans, Elevations, Sections, And Specimens, Of The Architecture And Ornaments, Of Exeter Cathedral. By J. Carter, Architect. Plate I(-XI). - [Plate I (add. engr. t.-pl.)] - [Pl. II-XI].
Responsibility Note
The Introduction states that the Society entrusted the supervision of the work to Sir Henry Englefield and Joseph Windham.
All plates are signed as drawn by John Carter and engraved by James Basire.
Each carries the publisher's imprint of the Society of Antiquaries of London.
The RIBA catalogue states, 'The work was published in printed paper boards or wrappers, bearing a very similar title to that on the fly-title, and the imprint "London: Printed By W. Bulmer & Co. And Sold At The Apartments Of The Society In Somerset Place, And By Messrs. White, Robson, Nicol, Leigh & Sotheby, Brown & Egerton. 1797" (see ESTC t015075)'.
References
ESTC, T105075
Royal Institute of British Architects, British Architectural Library ... Early printed books, 4 (2001), no. 3108.
Summary Note
A variant title is carried by the added engraved title-plate (plate I): 'Plan, Elevations, Sections and Specimens of the Architecture and Ornaments of the cathedral church at Exeter'. The publication-date of 24th April 1797 is carried on the added engraved title-plate and all other plates.
A cathedral had been established at Exeter in 1050, on the site of a monastery founded ca. 670 A.D.; and Romanesque towers of the 12th century survive over the transepts; but the plates here show the Gothic building of the 13th and 14th centuries.
As C.L. Eastlake notes in his History of the Gothic Revival (1872), Carter produced 'illustrations of a more useful and practical kind' than those of his predecessors; which placed the study of Gothic architecture on a firm footing. Carter became the first official draughtsman to the Society of Antiquaries. This account of Exeter cathedral was followed by similar accounts of Bath, Durham, Gloucester and St. Alban's.
Provenance
Acquired for the RA Library between 1841 and 1864.
Binding Note
20th-century half green morocco, green cloth-covered boards; gilt-decorated spine, lettered 'The Cathedrals Of Exeter, Bath, Durham, Gloucester & St. Albans. R.A. 1797-1817'. Bound with four others.
Subject
Architecture - Churches - Cathedrals - Great Britain - Exeter - History - 13th century - 14th century - Gothic
Plans - Elevations - Sections - Art history - Great Britain - 18th century
Pictorial works - Great Britain - 18th century