Variae architecturae formae, 17th Century

This architecture Book is all about perspective. Compiles engravings from Hieronymus Cock, Hans Vredeman de Vries (most of them published on his Book “Small architectural perspective views”) and Jan van Doetecam, published in 1601 by Theodor Galle as part of the 1st ed. of the present work. There’s a 2nd ed. by Theodor's son Jan (undated).

Engraves are about building interiors, courtyards, and city streets with canals placed within oval frames set in rectangles, corners are filled with ornament of various sorts.

Codex has no text or table of contents, no page numbers; and has been digitized by Getty Research Institute. 

-Updated on October 14th- The usual list of External links (recommended):

• Oxford Art journal article: Hieronymus Cock's Aesthetic of Collapse
• Variae Architecturae Formae (by Jan van Doetecam) is available at amazon.com, direct link here. Even at Barnes&Noble, link here. See price (15 USD??) on both links...

For a high resolution, pdf version of this manuscript, contact me (facsimilium AT gmail DOT com).



The "Saptasalokīgītāṭīkāvāle", or Veneration of Hindu deities (18th Century)

First hindu manuscript on facsimilium (they are hard to find!!): The "Saptasalokīgītāṭīkāvāle" is a richly illuminated collection of different texts of praise, unified as a popular pocket book, to be used in private or public veneration of various Hindu deities: Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, Sita, Rama, Lakshmana, Hanuman, Radha and Krishna, Mata Shakti, Mata Tripori Sondari Devi, Shiva Bhagwati (Akingam, Anantnag), Sharda Mata Temple at Gushi (Kupwara)

Codex is structured as follows:

• First two chapters are a selection of verses taken from different sections of the well known Bhagavadgītā with an extensive Hindi commentary in the first section. Both are presented as a discourse between the legendary figure Arjuna and the deity Krsna. The verses include discussion of themes regarding self-realization and mental focusand draws parallels between such knowledge and the knowledge of the Vedas.

• Third section is dedicated to the ten Visnu avatāras and derived from different sections of the Mahābharata. A number of other praise (stotra) texts follows and includes a short collection of stotras attributed to the medieval philosopher Samkara. Text is incomplete, but ends with a set of praises and mantras directed at the deity Śiva. Regarding the term "Avatar", many denominations of Hinduism such as Vaishnavism and some schools of Saivism teach that occasionally a god comes to Earth as a human being to help humans in their struggle toward enlightenment and salvation (moksha). Such an incarnation of a god is called an avatar, or avatāra. Hinduism teaches that there have been multiple avatars throughout history and that there will be more.

The manuscript includes 13 painted illustrations, most of which are for the avatāras of Visnu.

Codex is hosted by Penn Libraries at Pennsylvania University (My favourite section is "Selected Manuscripts").