Portfolio of Villard de Honnecourt
by VILLARD DE HONNECOURT, Manuscript (MS Fr 19093)
About 1235, Villard de Honnecourt, an architect from the Cambrai region of Northern France, prepared a textbook which is a personal document, Villard addresses his pupils. He promises them tuition in masonry and carpentry, drawing of architecture and figures, and geometry. Of all this the book contains examples, drawn and briefly described. It is invaluable as a source of information on the methods and attitude of the 13th century.
The picture shows a detail of Reims Cathedral.