In de Caus’ “La perspective avec la raison des ombres et des miroirs” text and illustrations are equally present. The text is presented to the reader as one column which is positioned off-centred towards the middle of the open book. This means the margin is a lot bigger on one side than the other. The outside margin is bigger. All in all, the margins are big, there is a lot of space around the text or the illustrations.
The font of the text is in the old style, as it was the norm in 1612 French Language. The “s” looks like a today’s “f”, the “v” and “u” look identical to me. The initial letter stands out in every paragraph. It is neatly decorated in new chapters and more modest in new paragraphs or sub-chapters. The headings are written in capital letters with generous spacings in between the letters.
As the author is describing perspective drawings, the text is accompanied by perspective drawings and details on how to construct such a perspective drawing. Every illustration sits right besides, below or above the text it belongs to. From in-text to full-page, all kinds of sizes are being used. Neither are the images numbered, nor are they referenced.
From what I can tell, text and illustrations play a similarly important role in the book, as they occupy similar amounts of space.
The organisation of text and images suggests that Salomon de Caus’ work should be read like a handbook. It gives instructions on how to draw certain objects or geometrical shapes in perspective.