L'Abbazia Di Vezzolano (Vezzolano Abbey)
Turin: Edizione G. C. Dall'Armi, No date. Edition not stated. Loose leaf. Large Folio (15 1/8 x 11 1/2"). [4] xii plates. Original gray-brown heavy handmade portfolio with brown lettering on title page, with elaborate framing. Series: Photographic Illustrations of Ancient Art in Italy. Architectural subjects researched and chosen by G. C. Dall'Armi, accompanied by bibliographical information. Contains title page, architectural plan of the abbey on verso of title page, bibliography, and a list of plates printed to folded cream handmade paper. The additional twelve handmade paper plates with tipped-in, captioned photogravures of the Abbey, average size 10 x 7". Scarce. No OCLC records.
The plates: view from Assieme; upper part of the facade; facade door; details of the door decorations; main view of the partition or tribune (dated 1189); the sculpture of the partition; Eastern side of the cloister; interior of the portico on the South side of the cloister; fresco of the fifth arc on the South side of the cloister; overall view of the cloister and church; detail of the capitals of the Southwest angel of the cloister; sculpted capital of the angel Southwest of the cloister. Disclaimer at bottom of last cream page: only owners of this file can purchase photographs of other details of the cloister. Text in Italian. Minor wear along edges with minor set of miniscule stains on lower front cover near spine. Very good to near fine condition. Item #53571
Legend has it that the abbey was erected by Charlemagne in 773 after a hunting expedition. The details of the encounter vary from source to source, e.g. Charlemagne encountering an epileptic fit near Albugnano, ordering the building of the cloister in honor of the Virgin Mary after he had recovered. Another version also describes a hunting expedition but has skeletons appearing to Charlemagne
The abbey was destroyed by the Saracens in the 10th century and was given to Oddo of Bruzolo by King Arduin in 1002. After his death his heirs gave the cloister to the prepository of Vezzolano. Rebuilt in 1189 it was occupied by religious communities until the early 19th century, when it was suppressed during the French invasion of Italy (Napoleonic Wars).
Price: $1,250.00