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In French
This new work is presented in two
volumes: the first contains texts and
illustrations, the second stores numerous plates
within a soft cover. This presentation is identical
to that of an earlier publication (Le Navire
marchand Ancien Régime).
Volume One:
The study begins by presenting the
research ordered by Colbert and his son, carried
out over a period of nearly twenty years, in order
to establish a conceptual theory of ships. In the
context of this ambitious undertaking, we find the
Chevalier de Tourville's attempt in 1679-80 to
persuade Colbert to adopt his ideas on ship
building. The pages of this text, "Le rendez-vous
de Rochefort", appropriately frame the vessel
proposed by the Chevalier historically, and it is
this dimension that is the main topic of the study.
In the following pages we take the opportunity to
include an annotated reproduction of all printed
documents from the XVIIth century preserved in the
Musée de la Marine in Paris. We also cite
various manuscripts which are a useful source of
knowledge of French naval architecture during the
reign of Louis XIV. After these "Mélanges"
which comprise nearly the first half of the volume,
we turn our attention to the monograph of M. de
Tourville's three-decker ship. Sources are analyzed
together with the basic document, a rare text from
1680, which is an authentic plan based on de
Tourville's ideas drawn up by a mysterious
character called Blaise Pangalo. A notice furnishes
some information on this builder of Neapolitan
origin who excels, from the 1680's on, as one of
our foremost master builders. The plates of the
monograph are reproduced at 1:44 scale. Each one is
accompanied by explanatory comments. Schematically
illustrated rigging rules follow the plates. We
present the description of the ship in the same
fashion and order as in the preceding monographs:
measurements of the volume of the entire hull,
drawings of all pieces of the timbers, description
of interior installations and the fitting out of
the hull, masting and its rigging, the rigging
itself, and the sails. We affirm that this new
publication in our collection is unique insofar as
it not only present a three-decker ship, but more
importantly, one that bears excellent witness to
Louis XIV's Navy.
Volume Two:
Comprised of 36 plates at 1:48
scale required for a detailed description of the
vessel, it is a sizable set due to the large format
of the plates at 1:48 scale and the dimensions of
the shipbound in a soft cover. N.B. the
explanations of the plates are found in the first
volume; they are reproduced at 1:44 scale, a size
that expedites the study of the plates without
excessive handling. Thanks to the talent and skill
of Bernard Frölich, a model of this
three-decker called l'Ambitieux is being built.
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