Title: Le théâtre de l’art de charpentier, enrichi de diverses figures, avecl’interprétation d’icelles
Author: Jousse, Mathurin Griveau
Publication Date: 1650
The title reveals that it is about carpentry. In addition, several characters are enriched in the book. It seems as if it is addressed to people who are interested in the subject or practice it themselves. There are several chapters in the book. They are all about carpentry. The chapters are titled with Roman numerals and labelled with the titles that belong to each. The chapters are divided into the different areas of the construction of buildings. They are often wooden constructions with only partly other materials like wood. Wooden constructions are clearly the focus. Roof constructions are also very important in the book.
There are many pictures or drawings of constructions in the book. They serve to illustrate the text. They are accompanying and explanatory.
I think the book is rather large in terms of its format. I’m not a specialist for old books, but I think it has a nice big format for an old book. But it needs it. It has many important pictures in the book. If the format were smaller, the pictures would become smaller and therefore illegible. The book is not thin but not particularly thick either. It is also devoted to the art of architecture. That takes a certain amount to put into words and to represent in pictures.
The author is Marthurin Jousse. As far as I know, he was a master locksmith. Therefore, he certainly had some connection with architecture and the art of carpentry. His intention was probably to show the excellence of architecture, to honor it, to inspire and spur people on, to record the history, the change and the progress.
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