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Inspired by @facondeuse's thread ( https://twitter.com/facondeuse/status/1272102652323774466), here is my own thread on the incredible sketchbook of Villard de Honnecourt, an artist active c. 1225–50.
In his curiosity and intelligence, he might be called the Leonaro Da Vinci of the 13th century.
In his curiosity and intelligence, he might be called the Leonaro Da Vinci of the 13th century.
All we know about him is that he was a French architect who spent a long time in Hungary. His sketchbook begins with the words:
'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.'
'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.'
In the best late medieval tradition, he ensured that his sketchbook contained a study of a knight and a snail squaring up to a fight.
This is Pride stumbling before Humility. The draping of the clothes and movement of the figures is exceptional.
A bear and a swan, drawn with careful detail but also ensuring that they have plenty of character.
A perpetual motion machine!
Villard wrote:
'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.'
(Next to it, added in a later hand: 'I say Amen.')
Villard wrote:
'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.'
(Next to it, added in a later hand: 'I say Amen.')
Leaf ornamentation on architectural details and on a Wild Man (before and after wilting, in his case).
'I once saw the sepulchre of a Saracen which looked like this,' wrote Villard. This is probably a pagan tomb, possibly Roman.
'This is a clock tower. Whoever wishes to build a clock tower should study this one, which I once saw. The 1st story is square, with 4 small gables. The 2nd story has 8 panels, a roof & 4 smaller gables broadly spaced. The topmost story is square [...]. Here is a picture of it.'
!['This is a clock tower. Whoever wishes to build a clock tower should study this one, which I once saw. The 1st story is square, with 4 small gables. The 2nd story has 8 panels, a roof & 4 smaller gables broadly spaced. The topmost story is square [...]. Here is a picture of it.'](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ea4XH42XYAEk4Wa.jpg "'This is a clock tower. Whoever wishes to build a clock tower should study this one, which I once saw. The 1st story is square, with 4 small gables. The 2nd story has 8 panels, a roof & 4 smaller gables broadly spaced. The topmost story is square [...]. Here is a picture of it.'")
Instructions and a visual design for building an eagle-headed lectern for reading the Gospel.
A series of sketches: Grasshopper, cat, house fly, dragon-fly, crustacean, coiled dog and a labyrinth. The flies wouldn't be out of place in a modern sketch-book!
A stunning scene of two knights jousting:
Designs:
1. For a hand warmer (a brass sphere with concentric rings to hold coals inside it), to be used by chilly bishops during Mass
2. A Pythagorean joke cup (when filled beyond a certain point, a siphoning effect causes it to drain its entire contents through the base).
1. For a hand warmer (a brass sphere with concentric rings to hold coals inside it), to be used by chilly bishops during Mass
2. A Pythagorean joke cup (when filled beyond a certain point, a siphoning effect causes it to drain its entire contents through the base).
Villard was very impressed by the tower of Laon Cathedral, and sketched out its design, with plentiful instructions.
Villard wrote:
'This is one of the windows of Rheims, in the area of the nave, as it stands between two pillars. I had been invited to go to Hungary when I drew this, which is why I liked it all the more.'
'This is one of the windows of Rheims, in the area of the nave, as it stands between two pillars. I had been invited to go to Hungary when I drew this, which is why I liked it all the more.'
A king with his soldiers and retinue:
A map of the layout in the Cathedral of Cambrai, and two figures wrestling.
Top: A church with a double ambulatory designed by Villard de Honnecourt and Pierre de Corbie.
Bottom: a map of the Church of St Stephen in Meaux.
Bottom: a map of the Church of St Stephen in Meaux.
Top left: the paving of a Hungarian church sketched by Villard.
Top right: How to build a pillar with the right joints.
Bottom: Rose window of the west façade of Chartres Cathedral (which still exists!)
Top right: How to build a pillar with the right joints.
Bottom: Rose window of the west façade of Chartres Cathedral (which still exists!)
Top: 'Here you may see the right kind of roof to place over a vaulted chapel; if you wish to see a good & easily-made wooden roof, study this one.'
Bottom: 'Here is a trussing for a strong penthouse & a sconce for monks to carry lighted; it can be made to turn if you know how.'
Bottom: 'Here is a trussing for a strong penthouse & a sconce for monks to carry lighted; it can be made to turn if you know how.'
Villard wasn't just interested in architecture! He also did studies of portraiture. These are various geometrical forms.
He wrote: 'On these four pages are figures of the art of geometry, but to understand them one must be careful to learn the particular use of each.'
He wrote: 'On these four pages are figures of the art of geometry, but to understand them one must be careful to learn the particular use of each.'
Studies of various figures.
Top: 'How to make a saw operate itself & make a cross-bow which never misses.'
Middle: 'How to make an angel keep pointing his finger toward the sun & the most powerful engine for lifting weights.'
Bottom: 'How to make the eagle face the deacon while the Gospel is being read.'
Middle: 'How to make an angel keep pointing his finger toward the sun & the most powerful engine for lifting weights.'
Bottom: 'How to make the eagle face the deacon while the Gospel is being read.'
A knight about to mount his horse. His face shows how difficult this was to do in armour.
'I want to describe how a lion is trained.'
To make him obey, a trainer beats his dogs. 'This puzzles the lion so much that his spirits are dampened & he obeys. If he's angry, there's no use trying, for he'll do nothing. Please note that this lion was drawn from life.'
To make him obey, a trainer beats his dogs. 'This puzzles the lion so much that his spirits are dampened & he obeys. If he's angry, there's no use trying, for he'll do nothing. Please note that this lion was drawn from life.'
'Here is a lion seen from the front. Please remember that he was drawn from life.'
'This is a porcupine, a little beast that shoots its quills when aroused.'
'This is a porcupine, a little beast that shoots its quills when aroused.'
'If you wish to build that strong engine called the catapult, pay close attention.' Full instructions enclosed!
A recipe for bruises, for workmen!
'Take the leaves of red colewort & of avens, a herb called tansy & some hempseed. Crush them together in equal quantities. Take of madder twice as much & crush it. Put these 5 herbs in a pot, and infuse in the best white wine.'
'Take the leaves of red colewort & of avens, a herb called tansy & some hempseed. Crush them together in equal quantities. Take of madder twice as much & crush it. Put these 5 herbs in a pot, and infuse in the best white wine.'
That's the end of my tweets! Most of the info was taken from Theodore Bowie's book on this manuscript. There are many more images which I haven't posted: explore them yourself on the @GallicaBnF website! https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10509412z/f71.planchecontact
