Recueil Et Parallèle Des Édifices De Tout Genre, Anciens Et Modernes, Remarquables Par Leur Beauté, Par Leur Grandeur Ou Par Leur Singularité, Et Dessinés Sur Une Même Échelle. Par J.N.L. Durand, Architecte et Professeur d'Architecture à l'Ecole Polytechnique.

RA Collection: Book

Record number

06/6032

Imprint

Cet Ouvrage composé de quatre-vingt-douze planches se trouve à l'Ecole Polytechnique, chez l'Auteur, Prix 180 francs. Les artistes pourront le prendre par cahier. Chaque cahier est de six feuilles. Prix 12 francs., Paris,: An IX. [sc. 1801]

Physical Description

[2], 90 dble. pl.; 495 mm.

General Note

The first dble. pl. (title pl.) is unnumbered; the second is numbered '0 bis'. When first issued serially the 90 plates were numbered 1-86 with four bis plates.

Contents

[T.pl.] - [engr.] Table Alphabétique Des Divers Genres D'Édifices, De Monumens Et De Détails D'Architecture Contenus Dans Ce Recueil - [Plates 1-90].

Responsibility Note

The first plate (title plate) is signed as written by Dien and engraved by Baltard. The second plate ('O bis') is unsigned. Plates numbered 1-90 are signed by their engravers - Baltard, Reville, Coquet, J.J. De La Porte, N. Ransonette, Gaitte, C. Normand, Le Pagelet (Lepagelet) or N. Normand.

References

Royal Institute of British Architects, British Architectural Library ... Early printed books, 1 (1994), no. 956, p.534-6.

A. Picon, Architectes et ingénieurs au siècle des lumières (1988; English tr. 1992); W. Szambien, Jean-Nicolas-Louis Durand 1760-1834 (1984).

Summary Note

As its title-plate implies, this work was originally published serially, in (fifteen) cahiers, between 1799 and 1801. It was issued both with and without an explanatory text by J.-G. Legrand.

By virtue of its organisation by building type, its simplification of historical models, its reliance on visual comparisons and its adoption of a common scale, Durand's 'Parallèle' was intended to encapsulate the entire history and scope of world architecture. Frequently reprinted, it remained the standard survey of its kind until the twentieth century, when it was superseded by successive editions of Banister Fletcher's A history of architecture on the comparative method (first published London, 1896).

Provenance

Copy 1: 29 December 1820: 'Resolved that the following work(s) be purchased for the Library, viz - Durand's Parallel d' Architecture ...' (RA Council Minutes VI, 184-5).

16 February 1821: Richard Baynes' bill of £52 18s. 'for Architectural Books' passed for payment (RA Council Minutes VI, 193).

This title is listed in A catalogue of the Library in the Royal Academy, London, 1821, p. 13)., Copy 2: Presented by E. Vincent Harris RA, 1965.

Binding Note

Copy 1: 19th-century half black morocco, grey cloth-covered boards; spine lettered 'Durand - Recueil Et Parallèle' and 'R.A.'

Subject

Architecture - Architecture details - Europe - Middle East - History
Art history - Plans - Elevations - Sections - Reference books - France - 19th century
Pictorial works - France - 19th century

Contributors

Jean Nicolas Louis Durand, draughtsman, publisher
Claude-Marie-François Dien, script engraver
Louis-Pierre Baltard, engraver
Jean-Baptiste Réville, engraver
Coquet, engraver
Jean J. de Laporte, engraver
Pierre Nicolas Ransonnette, engraver
Antoine Joseph Gaitte, engraver
Lepagelet, engraver