The Bases of the Columns, in Chippendale Drawings, Vol. I 1753

This technical drawing from Thomas Chippendale's "The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director" (1753) shows five different designs for the bases of columns in the Composite, Corinthian, Ionic, Doric, and Tuscan orders. Chippendale was a leading figure in the English Rococo style, and his book was influential in spreading the use of these decorative elements in furniture and architecture. The precision and clarity of the drawings illustrate the importance of classical architectural principles in Chippendale's work.