Tekstblad over de Zichtkunde 1693

This is a page of text, printed in the 17th century, by the French author Charles Perrault. The text is from Perrault's "Cabinet des Beaux Arts" and is printed in two languages, French and Dutch, a sign of the increasingly international art world. Perrault was writing at a time when academies and institutions of art were solidifying their control over artistic production. His writings, like this page, served to disseminate the ideas and theories that were shaping art at the time. Note that the Dutch translation on the right is titled, "Schatkamer der vrye Konsten," which roughly translates to "Treasury of the free arts." The idea of the 'free arts' reflects the institutionalization of art. To truly understand this text, and Perrault’s project, one would need to delve into the archives of the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, examining the textbooks and lectures that defined artistic practice in the era of Louis XIV. It is in these contexts that the text’s significance emerges.