picture book- lexicon
As you can see in my title, the author writes: Fréart, Roland in the book: “Parallèle de l’architecture antique et de la modern” about the several architectural concepts from the Antique and shows them in contrast to, in his time, contemporary styles . The main focus of this book lies more on ornamentation and stylistic choices than spatial features of buildings constructed in those two time periods. Furthermore, while some pages discuss the style of facades and entrances, the majority of explanations are drawn from different columns.
The book begins with an introduction, goes over to a description of the various orders and then closes on a middle section that is used to compare and draw parallels. The final part ends with the simple word “fin”, which reflects the style of the book’s layout.
“Parallèle de l’architecture antique et de la modern” is structured like a modern drama. With a clear beginning, a long middle section about the parallels, supported by many different illustrations and a short but crisp end.
Roland Fréart’s book begins with an epilogue that ends with the first part of the book: “The Orders in General”.
In the middle part there is always the same sequence of written and labeled pages. There is a description of the architectural concept and then a paln / 2D / or a three-dimensional drawing. Through this sequence of illustrations and text, the subject is visualized and thus simplified and the reader can only set up parallels through the illustrations and even parallels that can then be checked through the text. In addition, there is a clear structure in the drawings, first a plan drawing of the architecture of the order, then a 3D drawing with pronounced shading and the climax is signed by a 2 point perspective illustration.
The end of the book is introduced by a full-page illustration and also comprises only 3 pages with subsequent blank pages for possible notes.
Through the illustration of the various orders, a vivid picture is generated of how the architecture of the modern age or the architecture of the ancient world are related. It is possible to read the book without using the texts, just adding the pictures. So the book is like an ancient picture book encyclopedia about the various orders.
Illustration- dramaturgy – accurately