Title:
Insignium Romae templorum prospectus exteriores interioresque
a celebrioribus architectis inventi
nunc tandem suis cum plantis ac mensuris
a Io. Iacobo de Rubeis Romano
suis typis in lucem editi ad aedem pacis cum privilegio summi pontifices
Anno MDCLXXXIIL
Translation:
The most significant exterior and interior vistas (looks) of the temples of Rome
were discovered (found) by famous architects
now at last with their plants (plans?) and measurements
from lo. to Jacobo de Rubeis Romano
printed in light, published at the temple of peace, with the privilege of the supreme priests
Year 1683
Analysis:
The title tells us, that the book is about the exterior and interior design of rather buildings by famous architects or buildings discovered and illustrated by famous architects.
The book shows plans in a proportional presentation.
The book is dedicated to Jacobo de Rubeis Romano. But I think it’s for other architects, who need to know the roman architecture but are not able to go to Rome. With this book they have all information about the most imported buildings of the Romans. It contains exterior views, cuts and/or floor plans. Also, if there is no list of content nor chapters, the illustrations of the projects are always next to each other. If there is some kind of an organization of the buildings, it is not perfectly clear.
The whole book contains more or less just illustrations. Some illustrations have accompanying text, but these are more names and descriptions than alone standing text. The illustrations are printed, most likely copper engravings.
The book is quite large. To show the details, those engravings contain, its necessary to print them quite big. In proportion to the size of the book, it is quite thin. Probably around 5 cm.
The book was written by Giovanni Giacomo de Rossi. De Rossi was an Italian engraver and printer. I believe that de Rossi wanted to produce a catalog of Roman architecture, that will help architects to understand the design intentions. But I can imagen that, because of the many illustrations, the book should also open the topic of Roman architecture to other people of interests.