VERMAARSCH, Joost.
Eerste deel der bouw-kunst, ofte Grondige bewijs-redenen, over den sin ende practijck van den autheur Vincent Scamozzi, waer in grondigh wert bewesen, dat men door den middel van den autheur Scamozzi, Palladio en Vinjola hare vijf colommen kan uytwercken; als oock van alle de voornaemste meesters der bouw-kunst, ende dat alleen met het verdeelen van een duym-stock, of voet-maet.
Amsterdam, Hendrick Doncker, 1678. 4to. With an engraved architectural frontispiece by G. Wingendorp, engraved vignette with carpenters' and masons' tools on title-page, and hundreds of diagrams, measured drawings of columns, architectural ornament and other architectural elements, orthographic projections, etc., on 46 engraved plates (including 5 folding). 19th-century half cloth, paste-paper sides. [16], 40, 16, 34, [2 blank] pp.
€ 1,950
Richly illustrated second edition of an architectural manual compiled by a master mason, first published in 1664 (the first edition was also reissued in 1667). Although the title-page calls it the first volume, Vermaarsch never published a second. He openly borrows from architectural classics, naming Scamozzi, Palladio and Viniola on his title-page. He discusses mathematical projection, architectural decoration, the five orders of columns of classical architecture, and more specifically the theories of Scamozzi, Palladio and Vignola, each treated in a separately paginated chapter. As a practicing master mason in Leiden the author's views are of special interest when he discusses the design of decorative brick and plaster work for bases and capitals of columns for doors, gateways, windows, etc., freezes, ceilings and other works of masonry. He notes that all these designs can be constructed with only the very simplest measuring tools. The plates clearly illustrate his points and provide numerous models for brick and plaster decorations.
Very good copy with generous margins, with printed memorial label on the pastedown, stating that the book was presented to the mathematical society "Mathesis Scientiarum Genetrix" after Isaac La Lau's 1849 death by his son J.G. La Lau. Both were leading members of the society. Bierens de Haan 5021; Cat. Rijksmuseum III, p. 22; STCN (5 copies); cf. Berlin Kat. 2225 (1667 issue of 1664 ed.); not in BAL.
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