First I typed architecture in “topic of conversation”, chose the Xenotheka library, then searched for “columns, drawings”, as the book assigned to me, Reigle générale d’architecture des cinq manières de colonnes, by Jean Bullant, talks mainly about the five orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Tuscan) and is enriched with many drawings. However, before I could find anything, I had to try several brains, topics and search words. I initially chose architecture in topic, then typed in “five orders”, as the books that appeared were books that we were already studying in Mr Delbeke’s course. However, the search was inconclusive, as Alice did not understand the topic “five orders” as I did. Then I went back to architecture, then changed the “brain” to Shakespeare’s friends library. Finally, I came across a book that seemed to have similarities with mine. This is: Elements of Architecture, by Koolhaas. It also has many illustrations to support the text. This book, unlike mine, was published recently, in 2018. It was written to educate the reader and give them the ability to understand the different parts of each building.
I then chose “column” as the “topic of conversation” and changed the search word to “five orders”. I finally came across: Sebastiano Serlio on Architecture Volume 1, by Serlio. We have talked a lot about this book last semester, but I personally think that it corresponds to my book. It talks about the rules of geometry and perspective and he describes temples, arches and other architectural constructions. Moreover, it talks about the five orders, which are the main subject in the book of Jean Bullant. I chose this book because it is also illustrated, so that the reader can fully understand what the author is talking about, what he means.
Once I had a better understanding of how Alice works, I chose architecture as the “topic of conversation” and then typed “fig.” in the search bar, because I noticed that when authors refer to their drawings or illustrations, they specify (fig. [illustration’s number]). All this in order to find a book about architecture where an illustration or drawing is referred to. Finally, I found the book: Observations on the Letter of Monsieur Mariette, by Piranesi, which is also illustrated. It was published in 1765, a little over a century after the book by Jean Bullant (1647).