The Perspective of Architecture. A Work Entirely New; Deduced From The Principles Of Dr. Brook Taylor; And Performed by Two Rules only of Universal Application. Begun By Command of His Present Majesty, When Prince Of Wales. By Joshua Kirby, Designer in Perspective to His Majesty.
London:: Printed For The Author, By R. Francklin, in Russel-Street, Covent-Garden; And Sold by T. Payne, at the Mews-Gate; Messrs. Knapton and Horsefield, in Ludgate-Street; Messrs. Dodsley, in Pall-Mall; T. Longman, in Pater-Noster-Row; T. Davies, in Russel-Street, Covent-Garden; and J. Gretton, in Bond-Street,, 1761.
Physical Description
[6], ii, 60, [2] p., frontis., engr. dedic., 73 pl.: illus.; 531 mm. (Broadsheet).
General Note
In the Academy's first copy pl. LXIV is misnumbered LXIII and has been corrected by hand to LXIIII.
The frontispiece is signed as by Wm. Hogarth and engraved by Wm. Woollett. The engraved dedication is signed as engraved by John Ryland. Most plates are not signed by a draughtsman but pl. 55 is signed as designed and drawn by Kirby, and 62 is signed as by Inigo Jones Architect. Most have no engraver's signature, but some are signed as engraved by Boyce, A. Walker, F. Patton, J. Fougeron, P. Mazell, Kirby Jun., I. Ryland or James Basire.
Many plates have the publisher's imprint of Joshua Kirby and are dated 1761.
The original drawing for plate 64 was by King George, and is now in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. The headpiece of the text is signed as designed by S. Wale and engraved by C. Grignion; the tailpiece, as designed by S. Wale and engraved by T. Chambers.
The work is dedicated by the author to the King (George III).
References
RIBA, Early printed books, 2 (1995), no. 1675; E. Harris and N. Savage, British Architectural Books (1990), no. 399; J. Archer, Literature of British domestic architecture (1985), no. 168.1.
Summary Note
This work was also issued in two volumes in 1761 as 'The perspective of architecture. In two parts ...' (ESTC T133638) - in which Part I consists of Kirby's 'Description and use of a new instrument called the architectonic sector'.
The book is one of a group of works in which Kirby expounds the geometric and perspectival theories of Brook Taylor. It includes studies of shadows in perspective and demonstrations of shadows in niches. The headpiece of Kirby's text, showing putti studying geometry, was drawn by Samuel Wale, who in 1768 became the Royal Academy's first Professor of Perspective.
Reproductions
A microfilm was made by World Microfilm 1975-1977 (RIBA rare books collection; reel 3 no.9); another by the British Library in 2002 (Neg. PB.Mic.44220).
Provenance
[Copy 2]: Presented to the Academy by Josiah Taylor, the architectural bookseller, and acknowledged 20 March 1802 (RA Council Minutes, III, 134).
Binding Note
[Copy 1:] 20th-century half calf, marbled-papered boards; red morocco spine-label lettered 'Kirby's Perspective Of Architecture'.
[Copy 2:] 18th-century half calf, marbled-papered boards; red morocco spine-label lettered 'Kirby's Perspective Of Architecture'. Bound with publisher's catalogue of Josiah Taylor.