University of Virginia Library

Preface

This study had its genesis in my 53-page pamphlet of 1956, Jefferson's
Fine Arts Library for the University of Virginia: With Additional Notes
on Architectural Volumes Known to Have Been Owned by Jefferson,
published on behalf of the Alderman Library and the Bibliographical
Society of the University of Virginia by the University of Virginia Press.
That text was based largely on a study of records rather than the actual
books and became, in the long run, a desiderata list for a collection which
would illuminate a particularly important facet of Jefferson's creative life,
that is, his architecture and his attitudes on the fine arts generally.

Since that 1956 publication, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation
has most generously helped the Alderman Library of the University
of Virginia collect as many of the books that appeared in that
study as possible.

This present study, although perhaps technically a second edition
of the earlier work, has been largely based on the books themselves now
gathered together at the University. I am tempted to say, then, "that this
Work may in some sort be rather consider'd as an Original, than an Improvement,"
as Giacomo Leoni wrote about his own contributions to
his splendid edition of Palladio (No. 92a). Certainly it has grown far
beyond the bounds of the 1956 pamphlet.

It has been my purpose to give the reader not only accurate information
about the books but also some knowledge of their structure and
flavor so that it might be possible for him to form an idea of the architectural
thought which surrounded Jefferson, who based his own architectural
inspiration on them and who derived many of his architectural
forms from them. Although architectural books and the architecture of
the University of Virginia have been emphasized here, an emphasis
peculiarly appropriate because of Jefferson's desire that the two should
interact, the fine arts volumes also give us a glimpse of his background
in painting and sculpture and, sometimes, a direct connection with his
own collections.

It has seemed best to let the books speak for themselves. After a
transcription of the title page, a physical description of each book, and
background information about its authors, engravers, and subscribers,
pertinent quotations from the books are inserted, for it was found that
many of the authors gave very clear statements of their intentions and
sometimes equally clear summaries of their theses. The quotations, in
order not to weaken their impact, have been kept in their original
languages.

Finally, the relationship between Jefferson, architecture, and the
particular book is pointed out, a relationship which is inevitably closer
in some cases than others. For this information no one can work today
without consulting the writings of Fiske Kimball, the pioneer in the
study of Jefferson's architecture, whose 1916 monograph has recently
been reissued with an introduction by Frederick Doveton Nichols, and
E. Millicent Sowerby's 1952-59 catalogue of the library Jefferson sold
to Congress, a study which is so magnificently complete. Both have been
acknowledged whenever used, and both appear frequently. One other
source must be mentioned as being of the greatest help. Nichols's systematization
of Jefferson's architectural drawings enormously simplifies
problems of dating and identification.

The completion of this work has been made possible through the
award of one of the University of Virginia's Summer Research Fellowships.
The staff of the Alderman Library of the University, and particularly
that of its Rare Book Department, has been invariably kind.
The late John Cook Wyllie, the curator of rare books before becoming
Librarian of the University, was both mentor and friend; Francis L.
Berkeley, Jr., a former curator of manuscripts, was an ideal guide during
the early stages of my research; William Runge, the present curator of
the Tracy W. McGregor Collection, continued the many helpful acts of
Mr. Wyllie and Mr. Berkeley; and Julius P. Barclay, the present curator
of rare books, has spurred the publication of this study with his enthusiasm
and very great technical and administrative knowledge. I also
wish to thank Judy Nelson and Cynthia Sinnott of the staff of the Rare
Book Department for their suggestions, their editorial services, and their
searches for obscure copies of the books cited. Pauline Page of the
Graphic Communications Services of the library has made the photographic
portion of this study a delight. William L. Beiswanger, of the
staff of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, has kindly supplied
additional facts about Nos. 11, 81, 109, and 117, as well as arranging for
the photographs needed from Monticello.

It remains only to thank Thomas Jefferson for having led me into

such a fascinating path of research. To have read these titles was to gain
an insight not only into Jeffersonian thought but also into the best architectural
minds of the years before the opening of the University.