Terra Cotta of the Italian Renaissance

This is a beautiful survey of the best examples of Italian Renaissance architecture which use terra cotta decoration. Includes work by:Donatello, Brunelleschi, Filarete, Alberti, Bramante, Dolcebuono, Michaelangelo and Luca della Robbia, among others. Illustrated in black & white with 200 full-page plates. This copy was an office copy of the well-known New York architectural firm:Starrett and Van Vleck, the architects of many important early modernist buildings of the 1920's and 30's particularly in New York. There is an embossed blindstamp, the size of a quarter, on the title-page lower corner, but much more interestingly there is one of the Starrett and Van Vleck bookplates tipped-in on the inside of the front cover. About the size of a pack of cigarettes, and reminiscent of Rockwell Kent's work, it depicts a modern skyscraper, (think Gotham style, or Hugh Ferriss, with setbacks), against a much lower skyline. Many copies for sale on the net, but this one is unique. In good shape in the usual brown paper-covered boards, with gilt titles, black cloth spine with a small painted number at the bottom. Generally clean inside and outside, edges slightly abraded, and definitely used, by a very busy high profile firm. 12 1/2" high X 9" wide. This book will be securely wrapped and packed in a sturdy box and shipped with tracking.