Machines and Signs: A History of the Drawing of Machines [Hardcover]

This volume addresses the cultural, technical and ethical motivations of the history of drawing?of machines and its?developments step by step. First it treats drawings without any technical character; then the Renaissance with its?new forms of drawing; the 18th century, with orthographic projections, immediately used by industry; the 19th century, including the applications of drawing in industry; and the 20th century, with the standardization institutions and the use of the computer. The role of historical drawings and archives in modern design?is also examined.

This book is of value to all those who are interested in technical drawing, either from an artistic, from a design, or from an engineering point of view.

1.?? Introduction: State of the art.- ?Some preliminary considerations about the history of drawing.- ?Conclusions.- ?2. Motivation of the history of technique: Culture.- ?Technique.- ?Aesthetics.- ?Ethic.- ?3. The first steps: Introduction.- ?Prehistoric Age.- ?Ancient times.- ?Middle Ages.- ?Conclusions.- ?4. Renaissance: General considerations.- ?The authors.- ?Introduction.- ?Examples.- ?The first steps of the scientific documentation.- ?The first technical drawings.- ?Some conclusions.- ?5. The 18th Century: Introduction.- ?Gaspard Monge.- ?The orthographic projections.- ?The first application of orthographic projections.- ?The encyclopedic books.- ?The drawing as didactic and popular tool.- ?The drawing as documentary tool for scientists.- ?The drawing instruments.- ?6. The 19th Century: Introduction.- ?The first modern industries.- ?First steps of the institutionalized teaching.- ?The drawing as documentation tool for scientists.- ?The drawing as tool forl³"