Intended Purpose
Handling
Target Group
Context
Already on the front page Senckeisen makes it unmistakably clear to the reader what to expect from his book: „Leipziger Architectur-, Kunst- und Seulen-Buch: Worinne nicht allein die fünff Seulen nach ihrer Ordnung, und sehr leichten Art, dieselben bald zu erlernen, sondern auch von unterschiedenen Altären, sowohl mit als ohne Kanzeln, Alcoven, Portalen, […]“ This is a list of the topics, summarized as a subtitle. He also emphasizes how easy it is to learn the five orders of columns with the help of this book. The viewer quickly comes to the conclusion that this is a textbook for educational purposes. This hypothesis is confirmed when reading the preface, which is dedicated to the “höchstgeneigten und kunstliebenden Leser”. „Und vor allen Dingen denjenigen Handwerks-Leuten so nicht bey Mitteln seyn, die vielen und kostbaren Bücher, welche von der Architectur und Baukunst handeln, sich anzuschaffen; Dieselben finden hier in einem kleinen Format die besten Sachen beysammen, […]Doch will ich dieses hierbey melden, dass mein Intent nicht ist, denenjenigen so es besser wissen, oder doch besser wissen wollen, was vorzuschreiben, sondern nur Anfängern und Lernenden hiermit an die Hand zu gehen […]“ (2nd page of the preface).
Then the most important things about the five orders of columns, altars, doors and furniture, with drawings in between for a better understanding, are explained to the reader. Just as it was promised in the title. This is an uncomplicated, easy-to-use book that is presumably intended to appeal to a broader group of readers.
As a further detail, I noticed the individual words at the bottom right of the pages. It is the first word on the next page. I have come to believe that this is useful not for quiet readers who can simply turn the pages, but for those who read the book aloud. So you can already say the next word on the next page while turning it, hence the text is read more fluently for the audience. I don’t know if this method was common for books in general back then. As Senckeisen himself mentioned in the preface, books were too expensive for most craftsmen at the time. Therefore it makes sense that the book was read to the apprentices so that not everyone had to buy their own.
I conclude that Senckeisen wrote the Leipziger Architectur-, Kunst- und Seulen-Buch primarily to bring the most important things about the design of buildings and furnishing in a concise work to the broadest possible readership and audience. He certainly wanted to campaign for the preservation of architectural values and ideas, so that he would not have to „die Architectur muss zerhumpeln und missbrauchen lassen“ (3rd page of the preface).