Appleton's cyclopaedia of drawing : designed as a text-book for the mechanic, architect, engineer, and surveyor : comprising geometrical projection, mechanical, architectural, and topographical drawing, perspective and isometry

Front matter

APPLETONS'

CYCLOPAEDIA OF DRAWING,

DESIGNED AS

Preface

At the suggestion of the publishers, this work was undertaken to form one of their series of Dictionaries and Cyclopaedias. In this view, it has been the intention to make it a complete course of instruction and book of reference to the mechanic, architect and engineer. It has not, therefore, been confined to the explanation and illustration of the methods of projection, and the delineation of objects which might serve as copies to the draughtsman, matters of essential importance for the correct and intelligible representation of every form ; but it contains the means of determining the amount and direction of strains to which different parts of a machine or structure may be subjected, and the rules for disposing and proportioning of the material employed, to the safe and permanent resistance of those strains, with practical applications of the same. Thus while* it supplies numerous illustrations in every department for the mere copyist, it also affords suggestions and aids to the mechanic in the execution of new designs. And although the arranging and properly proportioning alone of material in a suitable direction and adequately to the resistance of the strains to which it might be exposed, would produce a structure sufficient in point of strength for the purposes for which it is intended, yet as in many cases the disposition of the material may be applied not only practically, but also artistically, and adapted to the reception of ornament, under the head of Architectural Drawing, the general characteristics of various styles have been treated of, and illustrated, with brief remarks on proportion and the application of color.

IV

PREFACE.

Within the last few years, both here and abroad, a number of works have been published on “ Practical Drawing,” but no one work has illustrated all departments of the subject. In the mechanical, the works of M. Le Brun and M. M. Armengaud are the standard which have been made the basis of two English works, “ The Practical Draughtsman’s Book of Industrial Design ” and the “ Engineer’s and Machinist’s Drawing Book.” From the latter of these works we have drawn most of our chapters on G-eometrical and Mechanical Drawing, and Shades and Shadows. In neither the French nor the English works has the science of architectural construction and drawing been adequately illustrated, nor has Topographical Drawing been treated of. In these two departments a varied selection has been made from the best authorities. In the Architectural, Ferguson and Garbett have been the most consulted ; in the Topographical, Williams, Gillespie, Smith, and Frome. The work will be found quite fully illustrated, and the drawings and engravings have been carefully executed, mostly under the supervision of Mr. IT. Grassau.

• Like most cyclopaedias, this work claims for its articles but little of novelty or originality ; the intention of the compiler was, to collect within moderate compass as much valuable matter as possible, in practical Drawing and Design ; and to this purpose he brings the experience of series of years in each of the departments treated. Practically, he has had means of knowing the necessities of the trade and of the profession, and trusts that the selection no\v made will be found useful for the purposes for which it was intended. — W.