Girard Desargues, the architectural and perspective geometry: a study in the rationalization of figure

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dc.contributor.authorSchneider, Mark E.en
dc.contributor.committeechairKilper, Dennisen
dc.contributor.committeememberPerez-Gomez, Albertoen
dc.contributor.committeememberMacAdoo, Thomas O.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHunt, Gregory K.en
dc.contributor.committeememberRegan, John T.en
dc.contributor.departmentEnvironmental Design and Planningen
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-30T21:23:45Zen
dc.date.available2017-01-30T21:23:45Zen
dc.date.issued1983en
dc.description.abstractGirard Desargues (1951-1662) was a key figure in the transformation of architectural geometry from its ancient and venerated status as transcendental knowledge and supreme reality to a mere technological instrument for the control of building construction practice. As a friend of Rene Descartes and Marin Mersenne, Desargues participated in the development of the mechanistic worldview which accompanied the emergence of experimental science and the renewed interest in mathematics and geometry as axiomatic, deductive systems. This dissertation examines in detail Desargues' methods of stereotomy (the geometrical basis of architectural stone cutting) and his system of perspective construction without vanishing points beyond the picturespace. Desargues' theorem and other key discoveries for which he is still known in the history of mathematics are discussed as they bear upon his methods of stereotomy and perspective. Desargues' stereotomy is almost certainly the first attempt at a universal descriptive geometry such as Gaspard Monge finally developed after the French revolution. Desargues' work in this area may thus be seen as a precocious foreshadowing of the engineering geometry in common use today. The writings of Desargues have been consulted in the original French. Extensive passages are quoted and translated, and a number of illustrations from the original texts are reproduced. Supplementary illustrations are also provided. Appendices list the known architectural works of Desargues, his writings and those of his friend and student Bosse which bear upon the exposition of Desargues' methods.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.format.extentvi, 302 leavesen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/74681en
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 12627629en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectDesargues, Girard,en
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V856 1983.S247en
dc.subject.lcshArchitecture -- Historyen
dc.subject.lcshAestheticsen
dc.subject.lcshGeometry, Projectiveen
dc.subject.lcshStone-cuttingen
dc.subject.lcshGeometry in architectureen
dc.titleGirard Desargues, the architectural and perspective geometry: a study in the rationalization of figureen
dc.typeDissertationen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineEnvironmental Design and Planningen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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