1 / 18
a drawing of a woman standing in front of a signan old book sitting on top of a white surfacean old book with a brown cover sitting on top of a white surfacea book that is sitting on top of a tablean old book sitting on top of a white table next to a white wallan image of a stamp with a coat of arms and a crown on itan old book with a drawing of a man on top of a buildingan old book with a red cover sitting on top of a white surfacea close up of an old book with writing on itan old book with a picture of a man on a horse in the middle of itan old book with a bunch of columns inside of itan old book with a drawing of a building and a clockan old book with a picture of a man riding a horsean open book with a picture of a bird on it ' s coveran old book with a picture of a man and a woman in the woodsan open book with a picture of a man and a woman on itan open book with a drawing of a column in the middle of itan open book with a drawing of a building on it
Premium KÂ- MONDO / KAPANDJI MORHANGE

8 - [ARCHITECTURE]. BLONDEL (François). Course in Architecture t…
See original version (French)

Estimate €1,800 - €2,500
Sale commission
Description
[ARCHITECTURE]. BLONDEL (François). Course in Architecture taught at the Royal Academy of Architecture. A major architectural treatise by François Blondel (1618–1686), accompanied by impressive engraved illustrations, including three allegorical frontispieces, 25 full-page plates, a large fold-out plate and some 252 wood- or copper-engraved figures within the text. Published in Paris by the Author and in Amsterdam by Pierre Mortier, 1698. 5 parts in 1 folio volume (255x375 mm), full brown speckled sheepskin, spine with 6 raised bands decorated with gilt fleurons and the title in gilt on a burgundy leather patch, triple blind-stamped border on the covers, gilt roulette on the edges, red edges (contemporary binding). 13 blank folios, 799 pages and 2 folios of errata, 3 allegorical engraved frontispieces, 25 full-page engraved plates by La Boissière for the first part, 1 large folding plate engraved by Broëbers, and approximately 252 wood- or copper-engraved figures for parts 2 to 5, some of which are full-page, a few engraved vignettes at the head of the text, numerous culs-de-lampe. Slight rubbing and wear with a few losses, restoration at the top and bottom of the spine and in the corners, a few foxing spots, more prominent in the margins, but not serious. Second revised and expanded edition of these famous lectures on architecture delivered by François Blondel (1618–1686) at the Royal Academy of Architecture, of which he was the first director. The work ensured its author’s posterity, notably thanks to the calculation of staircases, set out here for the first time and which has remained known as the ‘Blondel formula’. In the context of the dispute between the Ancients and the Moderns, the author positions himself as the theorist of classical art, systematically refuting the positions developed by Claude Perrault in Vitruvius’s Ten Books on Architecture (1673) and condemning the heretical, Italianate Baroque. A superb illustration accompanies the text, comprising 3 allegorical engraved frontispieces, one of which is after La Boissière, depicting the Porte Saint-Denis erected in 1672 by Blondel, 25 full-page engraved plates by La Boissière, 1 large folding plate engraved by Broëbers, showing the origin of the column capitals, several engraved headpieces and some 252 wood- or copper-engraved figures within the text, some of which are full-page. Heraldic bookplate of the Argenson library on the inside back cover. A fine contemporary copy in a beautifully fresh condition.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale Fine antique and collectible books, manuscripts and modern illustrated works
Auction location
Auction time 06/29/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like