GOODWIN, Francis.

Excellently preserved copies of the second edition, and first of the Supplement, of this major illustrated work on rural architecture, with 99 mostly hand-coloured aquatints, many more than in the first edition. Francis Goodwin (1784-1835) started out in Norfolk and was later commissioned civic buildings in the north of England; he worked extensively in the field of domestic architecture, even as far as Ireland, a design for the Irish country house appearing here. This copy was sold by a Manchester bookseller evidencing the interest in Goodwin’s work in northern England, where he regularly advertised via his agents. First published in 1833-34, and dedicated to Sir John Soane, ‘Domestic Architecture’ advertised his services designing a variety of country dwellings, especially inspired by the Gothic. ‘Architects in the 1830s and 1840s continued to encourage a diversity of expression by providing readers – potential clients – with a selection of styles. In “Domestic Architecture”, Goodwin published designs in Greek, Gothic, Italian, Old English [i.e., Tudor and Elizabethan], and other styles. His reasons for adopting them varied according to individual circumstances. The Italian style, for instance, was utilitarian, while Gothic suggested the hospitality of ancient monasteries, and “Ancient English” architecture was “well calculated to produce important character and striking effect”’ (Archer, p.103). The preface to vol.1 provides a remarkable analysis of the relation between Tudor and Elizabethan architecture and its social context – a style which early C19 architects like Thomas F. Hunt had been trying to adapt to modern requirements. The aquatints illustrate buildings as varied as a Swiss cottage, labourers’ cottages, park entrances, villas and a very large mansion with dozens of rooms, at a total price of £18,000. Titles here include Parts I and II of ‘Cottage Architecture’, here in its first edition, intended as a supplement to the first edition of ‘Domestic Architecture’.