DERAND (François) - L’Architecture des voûtes ou l’art des traits et coupe des voûtes - 1643

DERAND (François)
The Architecture of Vaults or the Art of the Lines and Cutting of Vaults: A very useful or even necessary treatise for all architects, master masons, masons’ helpers, stone-cutters, and generally for all those who take part in architecture, even Military...
Sébastien Cramoisy, Paris, 1643.

In-folio (33.4 x 28.9 cm), (14) ff., 453-(1) pp., (1) f., bound. Brown calf, spine with raised bands decorated, gilt title. Contemporary binding. Several leaves missing (Y2, Bb2-3, Pp3, Iii2-3), spine with lacunae, formerly restored and worn, raised bands and headcaps exposed, joints split, corners worn, restoration at the foot of the first plate, some stains on the boards, epidermures on the lower board, rare dampstains, a few light foxing without gravity. Wear from use.

Original edition of this treatise on vaults, the only one published in the 17th century.

It is illustrated with 120 (out of 125) architectural copperplates, full-page and in the text, as well as pretty initial letters and wood-engraved tailpieces.

A Lorraine Jesuit born in Metz in 1588, François Derand taught mathematics at the college of La Flèche before turning to architecture. He contributed notably to the rebuilding of the Cathedral of Sainte-Croix d’Orléans and oversaw the completion of the church of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis in Paris. His The Architecture of Vaults constitutes a major treatise and one of the foundational texts of modern stereotomy.

As in other copies, the plate on p. 127 has been replaced by a blank card.

From the library of the Saint-Vivien seminary, located in Rouen, with a handwritten ex-libris. The seminary, founded in 1680, closed during the French Revolution, in 1792.

Rare work.