Meetkunde als de korte en zekere weg naar kunst. Gérard de Lairesse en zijn Grondlegginge der Teekenkonst

Abstract

Geometry as the short and certain path to arts Gérard de Lairesse (1640-1711) and his 'Grondlegginge der Teekenkonst' In 1701 the Dutch painter Gérard de Lairesse published a painting textbook which became very popular throughout Europe. In the title of this textbook he specifically referred to the use of geometry as being the most certain way to become a good painter. From this paper it will become clear what De Lairesse meant by this. He hardly had a profound knowledge of mathematics, but he used mathematics as a basis for his vocabulary, his (intuitively applied) techniques, and to support (reasoning more geometrico) his aesthetical views. Doing so, and doing so very successfully indeed, he might be called the personification of the idea's of De Fontenelle, who thought that even those who did not possess any mathematical knowledge, might benefit from the geometrical spirit of his days. Therefore De Lairesse and his textbook allow us a glimpse of the inspiration laymen thought they could derive from mathematical knowledge.