RARE CATAFALQUE BOOK WITH ENORMOUS PLATES
[Scaramuzza Visconti, Giuseppe] [Dal Re, Marcantonio]: Dichiarazione del solenne apparato fatto nella Chiesa del Carmine in Pavia, nella morte dell' ill.mo Sig.r conte Don Giuseppe Scaramuzza Visconti. In Milano, nella Regia Ducal Corte, per Giuseppe Richino Malatesta, Stampatore Regio Camerale. 1742.
Striking and rare illustrated account of the decorations for the funeral, 15 February 1742, in the famous Carmelite church of Pavia, of nobleman Count Giuseppe Scaramuzza Visconti Aicardi. The celebrations were paid for (3-4) by his heir, Countess Barbara d'Adda Barbiana di Belgiojoso (1707-1769), who was wife of a prominent courtier to Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. The enormous plates depict a canopy hung over the altar; the catafalque; and the decorations to the walls of the church. They were made by the Bologna-born Marc'Antonio dal Re (1697-1766), who is famous for his depictions of views of Milan, villas, and appropriately, festival architecture (Alberici).
Although very imposing - and historically interesting - the great art book collector Count Leopoldo Cicognara (1767-1834), who had a copy of our publication, criticised their finish. "Sono tre grandissime e mal eseguite tavole in gran forme". This may in part reflect the speed in which the book was put together or the editing process of the pictures that took place. One of the fold-outs is in fact made with two plates, with an imperfect join, another plate has it appears masking to remove an inscription at bottom right. They do capture the grandeur and completeness of the ephemeral decoration to this large church. These decorations were themselves put up at speed (the death took place only on 21 January), and it is good to have elements of this ceremonial moment captured so vividly.
Description
One volume, 32 cms. x 21 cms. in binding, folio, pp. 11 [1] + 3 intaglio plates, one signed Marc'Antonio dal Re (plate measurements: respectively 56.2 cms. x 38.5 cms. (52.5 cms. x 33.5 cms. within platemarks); 81.4 cms. x 47.8 cms. (77.4 cms. x 45.4 cms. within platemarks); and 56.4 cms. x 95.7 cms. (52.9 cms. x 90.3 cms. within platemarks). Intaglio armorial to title-page, intaglio headpiece with portrait oval to p. 3, woodcut initial. Letterpress signed [ ]6. Light browning, slight staining, small touch of worming to second free endpaper (original plain wrapper) and title-page, plates with unobtrusive repairs (to versos; one to margin of recto), tear at inner margin of third plate. Bound, with original plain paper wrappers, in old pink marbled paper over boards (old stain to front pastedown).
Provenance: old sums to verso of final fold-out.
Bibliography
SBN: IT\ICCU\LO1E\020771. Cicognara 1509. OCLC shows copies outside Italy at National Gallery of Art and University of Illinois.
Clelia Alberici, 'DAL RE, Marcantonio'. Dizionario biografico degli Italiani 32 (1986).