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In French
Dassié'swork is considered
to be the first authentic published treatise on
naval architecture. This reputation may be slightly
exaggerated, since the subject was discussed to
some extent by Furttenbach in his Architectura
navalis (Ulm 1620), and is referred to, albeit in a
somewhat confused manner, in Pierre Fournier's
Hydrographie (Paris 1643). Thus Dassié's
treatise is one of the most significant in the
field of French naval architecture, since the next
new work to be published in the subject will not
appear until Duhamel du Monceau's study nearly a
century later. The 1667 edition, released in 1695
under a new title (see M. Polak's Bibliographie
maritime) is extremely rare. There was call
therefore for a new edition, and we owe a vote of
thanks to Dr. Santi Mazzini of San Remo for his
request that we offer a reprint to our readers.
Dassié, a master-draftsman in the Naval
Guards of Toulon had an excellent vantage point for
observing the daily goings-on in the port and took
a practical approach to his subject and in the
writing of his treatise. The chapter one deals with
the building of vessels and all related aspects.
After a discussion of drawing principles, naval
terms and the vocabulary of the timber work, he
shifts his attention to the proportions of the
hull, the fitting out of the hull, masting, rigging
and tackle. He then presents building regulations
and the inventory of a ship with a 115 foot keel.
The chapter two is devoted to the building of
galleys and longboats. He discusses terms that
properly refer to galleys; then he describes the
construction of a galley and a longboat before
listing the arms and supplies that were necessary
on a galley ship. The information on galleys is
followed by a reminder of regulations and
ordnances. The editor has chosen not to reproduce
the chapter three which elaborates on
tides,anchorings, the location of maritime points
and routes, since these topics hold little interest
for today's readers. Dassié's Architecture
Navale is of fundamental importance for the study
of Louis XIV's Navy. It is indispensable to an
understanding of the evolution of French naval
architecture in the classical period.
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