L'Architecture Des Voutes, Ou L'Art Des Traits, Et Coupe des Voutes: Traicté Tres-Util, Voire Necessaire A Tous Architectes, Maistres Massons, Appareilleurs, Tailleures de pierre, Et Generalement A Tous Ceux Qui Se Meslent De L'Architecture, mesme Militaire. Par le R. P. François Derand de la Compagnie de Iesus.
A Paris,: Chez Sebastien Cramoisy, Imprimeur ordinaire du Roy, ruë Sainct Iacques, aux Cicognes., M. DC. XLIII. Avec Privilege De Sa Maiesté.
Physical Description
[28], 453, [3] p.: illus.; 427 mm. (Quarto).
General Note
Page 346 is misnumbered as 344; pp. 372-374 as 378-380. A cancel p. [127] is pasted in.
Contents
[T.-p., dedic.] - [Preface] - [Contents] - [Text:] Partie Premiere, De L'Art Des Traits, Et Coupe Des Voutes; Seconde Partie ...; Troisiesme Partie ...; Quatriesme Partie Des Maistresses Voutes; Cinquieme Partie Des Vis Et Escaliers - [Errata; Privilege; Permission of Provincial].
Responsibility Note
No illustration is signed. Most decorations are unsigned, but some initials are signed 'E M' and one is signed 'F'.
The work is dedicated by Derand to Monseigneur De Noyers, Baron De Dangu.
References
Royal Institute of British Architects, British Architectural Library ... Early printed books, 1 (1994), no. 844; National Gallery (Washington), Mark J. Millard Architectural, I (1993), no. 60, p.136-7; Johns Hopkins University, The Fowler Architectural Collection (1961), no. 101, p.83-4.
Summary Note
Derand's best-known work is the church of St. Paul - St. Louis in rue Saint Antoine, Paris (1629-1641), where he took over the structure begun by E. Martellange, adding the vaults and the beautiful façade.
This treatise on stereotomy was addressed to both apprentices and master-masons, and is an attempt to apply new mathematic logic to the craft of the stone-cutter. But although he criticises Philibert De L'Orme and Jousse, Derand remains closer to them than to the Cartesian geometry of Desargues and Bosse.
The illustrations are all geometric figures keyed to the text - but their captions are often framed in fanciful cartouches, those on pages [213] and [449] showing students absorbed in the task of designing or modelling vaults.
A second edition was published in 1743, and a third in 1755.
Provenance
Recorded in RAA Library, Catalogue, 1802.
Copy Note
The title page is inscribed in ink, 'Wm. Portal'. Over the four figures shown in the elaborate cartouche on page [213] someone has written in pencil, 'Mr Monier Mr Lepas Blot Mr Rocquez'; and over the two on page [449], 'Roquet Mr Lepasse'.
Binding Note
18th-century mottled calf; rebacked in 20th century, retaining earlier black morocco spine-label lettered 'Architectur Derand'.
Subject
Architecture - Technology - Stereotomy - Vaults (structural elements) - France - History - 17th century
Treatises - Manuals - Instructional materials - France - 17th century
Pictorial works - France - 17th century