The Medieval Sketchbook of Villard de Honnecourt

Villard de Honnecourt, Theodore Bowie

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9780486146188
• Topic: Architecture
• Subtopic: Histoire de l'architecture

Little is known of Villard de Honnecourt, apart from the fact that his Sketchbook is one of the most treasured documents in art history. Active in the early part of the thirteenth century, the French artist produced remarkably accurate representations of diverse subjects that interested him: religious figures; insects, birds, dogs, and humans; architecture, including details from the cathedrals at Chartres, Rheims, and Laon; church furnishings; and mechanical devices. His technique--for the period--was fairly complex, especially when drawing the contours of draped clothing.
The artist's charming, annotated sketches reveal a knowledge of architecture, sculpture, carpentry, and masonry; and his comments reflect a keen and perceptive eye, whether depicting a monumental clock tower or describing a perpetual motion machine.
Comparable to da Vinci's notebooks for their historical importance, the drawings from Honnecourt's portfolio are reproduced here in their entirety, complete with authoritative translations of the artist's words, annotations, and editor's commentary.

PLATE 1 INCIPIT

The indications N. 1104 and S. G. lat 1104 and St. Germani a Pratis inform us that the Album was once in the Library of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The stamp of the Bibliothèque Nationale goes back to the period of the Revolution.

 

Top row: A pelican, standing on a globe, and tearing at its breast; a mitred bishop, seated and holding a crozier; a night owl.

 

Bottom row: A magpie holding a cross in its beak, standing on a slab (see Introduction for a comment on the inscription) at the right side of which crouches a goat-like demon.

PLATE 2 THE TWELVE APOSTLES AND OTHER FIGURES

Here you will find the images of the Twelve Apostles, sitting. Villard de Honnecourt greets you and begs all who will use the devices found in this book to pray for his soul and remember him. For in this book will be found sound advice on the virtues of masonry and the uses of carpentry. You will also find strong help in drawing figures according to the lessons taught by the art of geometry.

 

The Apostles are seated in three rows, two at the top and five in each of the lower rows. The other figures, standing on the top row, are a monk and a hooded woman. The somersaulting woman is presumed to represent Salome.

PLATE 3 TWO UNRELATED SKETCHES

To the left: a four-antennaed snail coming out of its shell.

 

To the right: a standing warrior wearing chain armor and helmet. The inscription to the left (in 15th-century script) reads: De Honnecourt, he who went to Hungary.

PLATE 4 CHRIST ON THE CROSS

PLATE 5 TWO ALLEGORICAL FIGURES

Left: A horseman thrown from his mount. The inscription above him reads: How Pride stumbleth.

 

Right: Seated figure of a woman holding a globe on which is designed a dove. The inscription defines her as Humility.

PLATE 6 BEAR AND SWAN

The castellated mansion at the bottom right is taken to represent the City of Heaven.

PLATE 7 THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT

PLATE 8 A PERPETUAL MOTION MACHINE

The legend below reads: Often have experts striven to make a wheel turn of its own accord. Here is a way to do it with an uneven number of mallets and with quicksilver. (To which a later hand has added: I say Amen.)

PLATE 9 FOLIATE ORNAMENTS

At the top: two foliate heads of bearded men.

 

In the center: an ornamental band.

 

At the bottom: ornamental leaves.

PLATE 10 “SARACEN’S TOMB”

The inscription at the top reads: I once saw the sepulchre of a Saracen which looked like this. “Saracen” is taken to mean any pagan, including a Roman.

PLATE 11 A CLOCK TOWER

The inscription reads: This is a clock tower. Whoever wishes to build a clock tower should study this one that I once saw. The first story is square, with four small gables. The second story has eight panels and a roof, and above that four smaller gables with a broad space between each. The topmost story is square, with four gables and an eight-sided roof. Here is a picture of it.

 

Upper right: The initial S ornamented with a dragon is not related.

PLATE 12 DESIGN FOR A LECTERN

The inscription to the right reads: Whoever wishes to build a lectern for the reading of the Gospel will learn that this is the best way to do it. First of all, place three dragons at the base, and a trefoiled slab over them. On top of that, three other dragons going in other directions, with co...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• INTRODUCTION
• PLATE 1 INCIPIT
• PLATE 2 THE TWELVE APOSTLES AND OTHER FIGURES
• PLATE 3 TWO UNRELATED SKETCHES
• PLATE 4 CHRIST ON THE CROSS
• PLATE 5 TWO ALLEGORICAL FIGURES
• PLATE 6 BEAR AND SWAN
• PLATE 7 THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT
• PLATE 8 A PERPETUAL MOTION MACHINE
• PLATE 9 FOLIATE ORNAMENTS
• PLATE 10 “SARACEN’S TOMB”
• PLATE 11 A CLOCK TOWER
• PLATE 12 DESIGN FOR A LECTERN
• PLATE 13 MISCELLANEOUS ANIMAL FORMS
• PLATE 14 MONUMENTAL CRUCIFIX AND TWO PENDANTS
• PLATE 15 TWO KNIGHTS ON HORSEBACK
• PLATE 16 MISCELLANEOUS DESIGNS AND INSTRUCTIONS
• PLATE 17 PLAN OF THE TOWER OF LAON CATHEDRAL
• PLATE 18 TOWER OF LAON CATHEDRAL
• PLATE 19 RHEIMS CATHEDRAL
• PLATE 20 CHRIST IN MAJESTY
• PLATE 21 NUDE MALE
• PLATE 22 FIGURE OF PLEADING WOMAN
• PLATE 23 THREE FIGURES OF MEN
• PLATE 24 SEVEN FIGURES
• PLATE 25 DESCENT FROM THE CROSS
• PLATE 26 TWO SEATED FIGURES
• PLATE 27 UNRELATED FIGURES AND PLANS
• PLATE 28 TWO PLANS OF CHURCHES
• PLATE 29 ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS
• PLATE 30 A ROSE WINDOW
• PLATE 31 CHRIST IN MAJESTY
• PLATE 32 TWO UNRELATED SKETCHES
• PLATE 33 GEOMETRICAL DEVICES (MASONRY)
• PLATE 34 DIAGRAMMATIC FIGURES I
• PLATE 35 DIAGRAMMATIC FIGURES II
• PLATE 36 DIAGRAMMATIC FIGURES III
• PLATE 37 DIAGRAMMATIC FIGURES IV
• PLATE 38 GEOMETRICAL DEVICES (MASONRY)
• PLATE 39 GEOMETRICAL DEVICES (MASONRY)
• PLATE 40 GEOMETRICAL DEVICES (MASONRY)
• PLATE 41 THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE
• PLATE 42 TWO MALE NUDES AND DECORATIVE HEADS
• PLATE 43 GEOMETRICAL DEVICES (ENGINES)
• PLATE 44 GEOMETRICAL DEVICES (ENGINES)
• PLATE 45 TWO UNRELATED SKETCHES
• PLATE 46 LION TRAINER AND LION
• PLATE 47 LION AND PORCUPINE
• PLATE 48 SEATED KING
• PLATE 49 CHRIST AND TWO SOLDIERS
• PLATE 50 BIRDS, DOGS, AND HUMANS
• PLATE 51 THREE GLADIATORS FIGHTING LIONS
• PLATE 52 SCENES OF VIOLENCE
• PLATE 53 TWO DESIGNS FOR CHOIR STALLS
• PLATE 54 TWO STANDING MEN
• PLATE 55 THE FLAGELLATION OF CHRIST
• PLATE 56 DESIGN FOR A CHOIR STALL
• PLATE 57 WALKING MAN
• PLATE 58 A CATAPULT
• PLATE 59 RHEIMS CATHEDRAL
• PLATE 60 RHEIMS CATHEDRAL
• PLATE 61 RHEIMS CATHEDRAL
• PLATE 62 RHEIMS CATHEDRAL
• PLATE 63 RHEIMS CATHEDRAL
• PLATE 64 TWO UNFINISHED SKETCHES
• PLATE 65 TWO RECIPES
• PLATE 66 CHARTRES CATHEDRAL AND PLAN OF THE TOWER OF LAON CATHEDRAL
• PLATE 67 TOWER OF LAON CATHEDRAL
• PLATE 68 CAMBRAI CATHEDRAL
• PLATE 69 CAMBRAI CATHEDRAL
• PLATE 70 CAMBRAI CATHEDRAL
• PLATE 71 PLAN OF THE CHURCH OF ST. FARON AT MEAUX
• PLATE 72 CHARTRES CATHEDRAL
• PLATE 73 A ROSE WINDOW
• Medieval Art through Eighteenth-Century Art