Title page of Vitruvius Scoticus

Category

Library Item

Item no

28264

Title

Title page of Vitruvius Scoticus

Description

The full title is given as 'Vitruvius Scoticus; being a collection of plans, elevations, and sections of public buildings, noblemen's and gentlemen's houses in Scotland: principally from the designs of the late William Adam Esq. Architect' and was printed in Edinburgh.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1812

Size

51.0 x 34.0 cm

Type

Pen work

Location

Art and Design Library

The title page of the Central Library's copy of William Adam’s Vitrius Scoticus, is handwritten in black ink and, presumably, is not the original.

In the 1720s, William Adam, the foremost Scottish architect of the time, starting planning his publication of Vitruvius Scoticus. He aimed to present a collection of architectural drawings illustrating examples of his own classical building style and that of his contemporaries.

Vitruvius Scoticus was started and named in response to the Scottish architect and architectural writer Colen Campbell's Vitruvius Britannicus published 1715-1725. Vitruvius Scoticus was finally published in 1812 after William Adam's death by his grandson, William Adam of Blair Adam (1751-1839), and contains 160 plates, including 100 of Adam's own designs.

William Adam designed numerous country houses and public buildings during the early 18th century, examples of which are included in Vitruvius Scoticus.

Among his best known works are Hopetoun House (plates 14-21) near Edinburgh, and Duff House (plates 146-148) in Banff. His individual, exuberant style built on the Palladian style, but with Baroque details inspired by Vanbrugh and Continental architecture.

Vitruvius Scoticus continues to remain a reference for many an architect and architectural historian documenting the early development of a classical style in Scotland.

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Homes > Residential buildings > Houses

Homes > Residential buildings > Mansions

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