Digitized Rare Books

In 1674, at the age of 21 and after capture by Algerian pirates, Desgodets spent 16 months measuring the most important Roman monuments and ancient buildings in greater accuracy and detail then had previously achieved. Twenty-five of these monuments were published in 1682 as Les Edifices Antiques. The text that accompanies the illustrations notes discrepancies with Vitruvius and mistakes made by Palladio, Serlio, and Freart de Chambray.

Jean-Nicholas-Louis Durand's scientific study and comparison of ancient and 'modern' architectural forms is presented through a careful study of plans and elevations comprising of more than 90 plates. Durand is the first to organize and present by their function. This publication contains hundreds of buildings in comparison and is extremely useful for studying typology. 

Le Roy, the son of a court clockmaker, studied architecture with Jacques-François Blondel. Le Roy benefited from the good relationship between France and the Ottoman Empire, which provided him ready access to the sites he needed for his project, and therefore, the ability to publish his work before Stuart and Revett. After spending a mere three months in Greece, he published his Les Ruines in 1758, four years before the first volume of Stuart and Revett's volume was available.

Letarouilly's Edifices de Rome Moderne represents a 13-year project to document sixteenth and seventeenth century architecture in Rome. The resulting publication is the most comprehensive study on Roman architecture and crucial for any student of Rome. The scholarly publication is written from years of research compiled from major Italian libraries. It's most notable contribution to students is the plan, section, elevation, and details of nearly every major Renaissance building in Rome.