Lost Art Press

I didn’t enjoy this education for long, totally imperfect that it was, because at the age of 11, (it was in 1750) my father, who was and who is still of the Guild of Furniture Makers, made me begin to work with him in order to transmit his knowledge and his position to me, the only good that he had to give me, and that he had likewise received from his father, also of the Guild of Furniture Makers.

From this time up until 1768 [at the age of 29], when I began to make my only object the Description of the Art of Woodworking, I was more occupied with the practical knowledge of my position, than those which, however appropriate to expanding the soul and mind, were strangers to my principal purpose. I have had the happiness to make progress in my profession during the 18 years that I practiced manual work, and still more to know the late Mr. Blondel, with whom I worked for five years, during which time he gave me all assistance possible, in giving to me freely all the help and counsel which could be useful to me both in public as in private, to help me acquire the knowledge necessary on architecture in general and relative to my position.

Instead these readings, although absolutely unconnected to my goal (of learning my craft and subsequently writing this book) but obtained at a time where my reason began to develop (to which the study of geometry has served me greatly), put me in the position to render my thoughts without a florid and elegant style, but at least with precision and a sort of clarity. They have also allowed me to know and to feel the order which is necessary in a didactic work such as mine, where all the content should tie together and often in sequence. Repetitions are sometimes inevitable and perhaps even necessary to better know the truth and importance that one is advancing, and the consequences that one should or one can derive.