1742 An Italian Garden inspired by the Metamorphosis of Ovid. SGRILLI, BERNARDO SANSONE. 1733-1755. Descrizione della regia vila, fontane, e fabbriche di Pratolino Florence: Tartini & Franchi for Stamperia Granducale, 1742. Folio (358 x 253 mm). Engraved initials, vignette headpiece and tailpiece. 12 engraved double page plates mounted on stubs by Sgrilli Stefano della Bella. Light marginal spotting. Original Italian paper backed decorated stiff paper wrappers, housed in a clamshell box. Provenance: Arthur and Charlotte Vershbow (bookplate, their sale, Christie's New York, 20 June 2013, lot 391). FIRST EDITION of this series of etchings of the famous fountains and gardens at Pratolino. The park was built to rival the Villa d'Este between 1568 and 1586 by Bernardo Buontalenti, artist, stage designer and architect to the Medici. It became Europe's most famous garden, filled with statuary, automata, grottoes, waterworks and labyrinthian pathways, fell into disrepair in the 19th century. The sculptures were removed to the Boboli Gardens and in 1820 the garden was razed and rebuilt in the English style. The Medicis finally sold it in 1872 and today it is a public park with only a bit of the original garden remaining, but with Giambologna's imposing giant Appennino still sitting in its original commanding position. The large and detailed etchings by Stefano Della Bella, first-hand testimonials to one of the most extraordinary European gardens of any period, are masterful examples of his late Rococo Mannerist style, a contrast to Sgrilli's formal engraved plates of the garden's plans and elevations. Berlin Kat. 2699. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing