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The Vitruvian principles of architecture, practically demonstrated : in which is included Vitruvius's orders of columns, applyed to practice. By a great variety of new and useful designes of temples, portico's, altarpieces, triumphal-arches, obelisques, frontispieces, doors, windows, neaches, chimney-pieces, &c. interspersed with several curious designes selected from the works of the most celebrated architects viz. Palladio, Serlio, Le-Clerc, Inigo Iones, and others. Likewise, the construction of brick and stone arches; and a great variety of new and useful designes of vases, never before published, proportioned by modules and minutes, with rules for moduling them in due proportion to any height required. The whole illustrated after a more concise, easey, and instructive method, than hath hetherto been made publick; containing above 120 examples on 84 copper plates
Title
The Vitruvian principles of architecture, practically demonstrated : in which is included Vitruvius's orders of columns, applyed to practice. By a great variety of new and useful designes of temples, portico's, altarpieces, triumphal-arches, obelisques, frontispieces, doors, windows, neaches, chimney-pieces, &c. interspersed with several curious designes selected from the works of the most celebrated architects viz. Palladio, Serlio, Le-Clerc, Inigo Iones, and others. Likewise, the construction of brick and stone arches; and a great variety of new and useful designes of vases, never before published, proportioned by modules and minutes, with rules for moduling them in due proportion to any height required. The whole illustrated after a more concise, easey, and instructive method, than hath hetherto been made publick; containing above 120 examples on 84 copper plates / By W. Salmon Iunior carpenter of Colchester Essex.
Production
1737.
Physical Description
1 v. ([1], 91 p., [1], 84, [1] leaves of plates, [6] folded) : ill. ; 19 cm.
Language
English
Notes
In pen and brown and red ink. Illustrations in brown ink with some grey wash.
Bound in later gilt-tooled red morocco, with gilt edges and marbled endpapers. Signed: Morrell, binder, London.
Biographical / Historical Note
William Salmon (ca. 1703-1779) was the son of a carpenter and joiner at Colchester and followed the same trade himself. Between 1733 and 1741, he wrote four modestly priced and eminently practical builder's manuals whose success may be judged from the number of editions through which they passed.
Summary
Manuscript text, by William Salmon, on Vitruvian principles of architecture. The volume includes 84 leaves of illustrations, all in pen and brown ink, with gray wash. It is likely that the entire manuscript is in Salmon's hand. The work was almost certainly intended for publication, but never actually published. The text and illustrations are clean, with minor revisions and additions; it is probably a late draft. All leaves of text are ruled in graphite. Illustrations also show the use of working lines made in graphite. The preliminary unnumbered plate is a drawing for an added engraved title page. Pages and "plates" are numbered in separate sequences.
As in Salmon's successful published works, the present manuscript endeavors to appeal to a wide audience. The preface (pages 1-10) offers a brief summary of architectural history up through Inigo Jones, with an emphasis on the Greeks and Romans. Salmon notes that his work on Vitruvian principles will be especially useful to an English audience because Vitruvius's "works are writ in the French toung, scarce, and hard to come at, and of a great price." In his preface, Salmon states his intention to simplify certain concepts: "And as Vitruvius hath proportioned his orders of columns in a very intricket manner, I have reduced his proportions to modules and minutes, as being the best and most easiest method for the practis of the leaner ..."
The illustrations are the core of the manuscript. The text describes each illustration, one plate at a time, with notes on the techniques used in each design. Many of the illustrations show the geometric shapes underpinning the proportions of various designs, with frequent use of a compass. Some of the designs include measurements; others are keyed with letters or numbers, to facilitate description in the text. Plates 1-29, and pages 1-50, describe the five classical orders: Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, and composite. The middle portion of the manuscript shows elaborations on these orders, incorporating the ideas and designs of the likes of Palladio, Serlio, Le-Clerc, Inigo Jones, and James Gibbs. Plates 67-84 depict designs for vases, described in pages 82-91 of the text. A final unnumbered illustration, "Two different designs for book cases", was probably not intended for publication.
Format
Archives or Manuscripts
Added to Catalog
February 16, 2007
References
Harris, E. British architectural books and writers, p. 408
William Salmon, The Vitruvian Principles of Architecture, Practically Demonstrated. Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection.
Cite as
William Salmon, The Vitruvian Principles of Architecture, Practically Demonstrated. Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection.
Subjects
Subjects (Local Yale)
Genre/Form
Architectural drawings.
Ink drawings.
Bookmark As
Citation
