Descriptions des Arts et Métiers
Encyclopedia
Descriptions des Arts et Métiers, faites ou approuvées par messieurs de l'Académie Royale des Sciences was published by the Académie Royale des Sciences of Paris between 1761 and 1788.
The full series comprises 113 folio volumes plus three supplements and provide detailed accounts of a wide range of handcraft and manufacturing processes carried out in France at that time. The volumes are well-illustrated, with precise engraving
s by Jean Elie Bertrand (1737–1779) a noted typographer
from Neuchâtel, where the printing was done. Many of them provide the background for shorter articles in the Encyclopedie
, which was appearing at much the same time.
The project had its origin in request from Colbert
in 1675 to the Academy Royal des Sciences for detailed accounts of various mechanic arts to be prepared, and for new machines to be reported upon. René-Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur (1683–1757) became editor soon after he joined the Academy. He inherited number of drawings (the earliest prepared in 1693) and an illustrated manuscript on printing, type and book binding, which had been prepared in 1704. It was left to Réaumur's successor Duhamel du Monceau to bring about the publication of the series, probably as the result of the competition from the Encyclopédie.
The articles and engravings in the Descriptions des arts et Mètiers are more detailed and accurate than those in the Encyclopédie, and so are of more value for technical historians today. There is evidence that proofs of some 150 plates were stolen by agents of Diderot who had them re-engraved for his project. There is a similarity between many of the plates used in the two works.
The first of the volumes appeared in 1761, and the last in 1788.
In all the series comprises 13,000 pages and 1,804 plates.
This series is an incomparable source of detailed information about the techniques of handicraft and manufacture in the 18th Century. A handful of libraries worldwide have complete sets but it was reprinted in facsimile in 25 volumes by Slatkine Reprints of Geneva in 1984 with ISBN 2051006105. A microfilm version is also available from Gale as part of their Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Periodicals and Academy Publications series http://www.galegroup.com/servlet/ItemDetailServlet?region=9&imprint=745&titleCode=PSM126&type=4&id=N830
Full scan: http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k107853f.image.r=L%27art+d%27exploiter+les+mines+de+charbon+de+terre.f1.langEN
And a subset of the plates are viewable on the web site of the l'Istituto Internazionale di Storia Economica "F. Datini"
The full series comprises 113 folio volumes plus three supplements and provide detailed accounts of a wide range of handcraft and manufacturing processes carried out in France at that time. The volumes are well-illustrated, with precise engraving
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
s by Jean Elie Bertrand (1737–1779) a noted typographer
Typography
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type in order to make language visible. The arrangement of type involves the selection of typefaces, point size, line length, leading , adjusting the spaces between groups of letters and adjusting the space between pairs of letters...
from Neuchâtel, where the printing was done. Many of them provide the background for shorter articles in the Encyclopedie
Encyclopédie
Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers was a general encyclopedia published in France between 1751 and 1772, with later supplements, revised editions, and translations. It was edited by Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert...
, which was appearing at much the same time.
The project had its origin in request from Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert was a French politician who served as the Minister of Finances of France from 1665 to 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. His relentless hard work and thrift made him an esteemed minister. He achieved a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing...
in 1675 to the Academy Royal des Sciences for detailed accounts of various mechanic arts to be prepared, and for new machines to be reported upon. René-Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur (1683–1757) became editor soon after he joined the Academy. He inherited number of drawings (the earliest prepared in 1693) and an illustrated manuscript on printing, type and book binding, which had been prepared in 1704. It was left to Réaumur's successor Duhamel du Monceau to bring about the publication of the series, probably as the result of the competition from the Encyclopédie.
The articles and engravings in the Descriptions des arts et Mètiers are more detailed and accurate than those in the Encyclopédie, and so are of more value for technical historians today. There is evidence that proofs of some 150 plates were stolen by agents of Diderot who had them re-engraved for his project. There is a similarity between many of the plates used in the two works.
The first of the volumes appeared in 1761, and the last in 1788.
Topics covered
- Building construction
- Clothing
- Shipbuilding
- Fishing
- Woodworking
- Pipe-organ making
- Metal working
- Turning and lathe work
- Scientific-instrument making
- Flour milling
- Baking and sugar refining
- Paper-making and bookbinding
- Tanning and soapmaking
- Wine and vineyards
- Cutlery and surgical instrument making
- Mining and metallurgy
- Porcelain and pottery manufacture
- Painting
- Textile manufacture
In all the series comprises 13,000 pages and 1,804 plates.
This series is an incomparable source of detailed information about the techniques of handicraft and manufacture in the 18th Century. A handful of libraries worldwide have complete sets but it was reprinted in facsimile in 25 volumes by Slatkine Reprints of Geneva in 1984 with ISBN 2051006105. A microfilm version is also available from Gale as part of their Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Periodicals and Academy Publications series http://www.galegroup.com/servlet/ItemDetailServlet?region=9&imprint=745&titleCode=PSM126&type=4&id=N830
External links
((Fr)) Browsable on the BNF (French National Library) Gallica Web siteFull scan: http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k107853f.image.r=L%27art+d%27exploiter+les+mines+de+charbon+de+terre.f1.langEN
And a subset of the plates are viewable on the web site of the l'Istituto Internazionale di Storia Economica "F. Datini"