Various plates-WATER ENGINEERING-Agostino Ramelli-1588

Description More plates will follow or Inquire. Description: This print originates from a rare, monumental and valuable book: ‘Le diverse et artificiose machine del Capitano Agostino Ramelli’, Paris, 1588. This interesting book (‘one of the most elegantly produced of all technological treatises’) is a series of engravings of various machines devised by the engineer Agostino Ramelli. Born in southern Switzerland, Ramelli served in the French army during the Wars of Religion (1562-98) and proved himself a competent engineer during the 1572 siege of La Rochelle which brought him to the attention of the future King Henri III (reigned 1574-89). In 1588, Ramelli published this book, written in Latin, French and Italian which provides detailed images of both civic and military machines. More than half of the volume consists of engravings of pumping machines and water mills, while another large section is devoted to ingenious siege engines. It is unknown how many of these proposals were actually used; some are recognisable today, particularly the use of pistons to raise water from one level to another, but others appear too complex and seem to indicate that Ramelli produced this work to demonstrate his knowledge of mechanics rather than to serve as a guide to the practical uses of technology. The book was of great technological importance. References for the book: Adams R-52; Brunet IV, 1095; Heralds of Science 173; Harvard/Mortimer French 452; Norman 1777; Riccardi I, 341. Artists and Engravers: Made by Ambroise Bachot after Agostino Ramelli. Agostino Ramelli (c. 1531-c.1610) was an Italian military engineer. He got trained in mathematics and military engineering while serving the Italian warlord Gian Giacomo de Medici. Ambroise Bachot was an apprentice and assistant to Ramelli. They later parted ways. As Bachot’s later engravings are very similar to the engravings in this work it is now assumed Bachot engraved the plates after Ramelli’s designs.