Ancient masonry, both in the theory and practice : demonstrating the useful rules of arithmetick, geometry, and architecture, in the proportions and orders of the most eminent masters of all nations ... : and also of the Cariatides, Persians, French, Spanish, and English, together with their most valuable designs ... : the whole interspersed with critical remarks and observations on each master, illustrated by above three thousand examples, engraved on four hundred and ninety four large folio copper plates : with a dictionarial index, explaining the terms of art used herein
Ancient masonry, published in London in 1736 by Batty Langley, is an architectural builders' and craftsmen's treatise on arithmetic, geometry and the classical orders, with copper-plate examples drawn from many masters. The plates show column capitals, entablatures and elevations of orders drawn in precise line with measured dimension marks. A designer could take from them clear, systematic studies of Ionic, Corinthian and Doric proportions and ornament, useful for classical detailing and typographic column motifs.
