When Met fellow Yeo-Jin Katerina Bong came across a 17th century copy of Rusconi’s edition of Vitruvius’s Ten Books on Architecture in the Department of Drawings and Prints, she was elated by her discovery—but disheartened by the book’s physical condition. Go behind the scenes at The Met as curator Femke Speelberg and book conservator Clare Manias discuss the book’s history and extensive illustrations as it is conserved for an upcoming exhibition.
Conservator Clare Manias carefully removes the book's binding. Giovanni Antonio Rusconi (Venetian, ca. 1520–1587). I Dieci libri d'architettura di Gio: Antonio Rusconi. Secondo i precetti di Vitruvio, novamenti ristampati, & accresciuti della Prattica degl'Horologi Solari, published in Venice [Francesco Nicolini] 1669 (1660). Printed book with woodcut illustrations, 11 1/2 x 8 1/8 x 1 1/8 in. (29.2 x 20.5 x 2.8 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1952 (52.519.32)
