Manière universelle de Mr Desargues, pour pratiquer la perspective par petit-pied, comme le géométral. Ensemble les places et proportions des fortes & foibles touches, teintes ou couleurs [...].

3 pts in 1 vol., 8vo: front.-[16]-1/168 pp., [169]/184 col., 169/176-193/342-[2] pp. (occ. foxing and some sm. stains mostly marginal).

Contemp. overlapping vellum, ms. shelf mark on upper board, title on spine, red spr. edges (spine torn with some missing). Inside very fresh, large margins copy.

First edition of this pedagogical treatise, inspired by the founder of perspective geometry Girard Desargues (1591-1661) and intended to gradually learn the subtleties of perspective through the support of mathematics. The first part also contains some pages on shadows and shading, the second part is devoted to the perspective of irregular surfaces, and the third part to Desargues' treatise on perspective (first ed.: 1636) as well as to supplements that he probably wrote. Illustration complete with 163 engravings: allegorical front., portrait of Michel Larcher and engr. dedication (full page) with his arms, title-front. dated 1647, 159 technical plates printed mostly on both sides on 81 ff. (numb. 1-156, pl. 151 and 156 printed twice + engr. "Demonstration" for pl. 156).
Réf. Fowler 56. - Berlin Kat. 4716. - Cicognara 817.
Prov. Werry (ms. mention).