André Jacob Roubo
André Jacob Roubo (1739–1791) was a carpenter, cabinetmaker and author. Roubo was born and died in Paris. The son and grandson of master cabinetmakers, he earned that same designation himself in 1774 through the publication of his masterwork treatise on woodworking.
He wrote a highly influential complete treatise on woodworking that covers practically all the associated trades. This multi-volume work, L'Art du Menuisier (The Art of the Joiner), published between 1769 and 1774 by the Académie des Sciences, contains sections and illustrations on: building carpentry, furniture making, and precious woodworking (ébénisterie), carriage making, and garden woodworking.
Roubo's design for a workbench has proven to be popular amongst some modern woodworkers.[1]
Biography
The son and grandson of fellow woodworkers, he was a pupil of the architect Blondel and he received the title of Master in 1770 upon publication of the first part of The Art of the Carpenter. He designed and supervised the construction of the great domes of the halls Wheat and Cloth, and a monumental staircase to the hotel of the Marquis de Marbeuf. He wrote a comprehensive treatise on carpentry that covers virtually all associated trades. In 1777, he published the first part of a treatise of theater construction and theatrical machinery. The footnotes of these books show that Roubo had an interest in the social status of artisans. In 1789 most of his noble customers had left France; Roubo was nearly financially ruined and was forced to join the National Guard in 1790. Here he achieved the rank of Lieutenant before dying in 1791. He left a widow and four minor children who lived off of his pension in rue Saint Jacques in Paris (formerly parish Saint-Jacques du Haut-Pas). His biography was published in 1836 by the future architect Louis-Auguste Boileau, then a carpenter, in the series "Portraits and History of Useful Men," published by Franklin Montyon and Company.
Works
L'art du Menuisier (The Art of the Carpenter) - a 4 volume set published in 1768-69. As of 2015, a hardcover reprint is currently available for volumes 1 (ISBN 9333664017), 2 (ISBN 9333698639), 3 (ISBN 9333664025 3) and 4 (ISBN 9333698639). The work has more than 340 pages and 389 plates engraved by Roubo and discusses in detail the technical knowledge of the trades of carpentry during the reign of Louis XV. Of the four volumes, the third is the most developed, dealing with dormant carpentry and covering furniture manufacturer, cabinet making and treillage.
Various "extensions" were given to the 19th and 20th century Art of the carpenter, including Dufournet editions. Regarding organ cases, André-Jacob Roubo worked with Dom François Bedos de Celles.
Roubo also treated the construction of theaters and theatrical machinery, with Jombert Collot in 1777. Reprinted in fac-sim. by Slatkine in 1984 under the false name of "Jacques-André," as part of the collection dummy Arts instruments ( ( ISBN 2051006466 ) ). But only the first part ( History and architecture of theaters, especially France and Italy ) was published even though the second ( theatrical Machines ) in 1777 was declared "ready to print" so that the title promises more that the book gives. Nevertheless, it is a remarkable work, small in size, with 66 pages of text in two columns and 10 beautiful engravings.
Tributes
There is in Paris' 11th arrondissement since 1850 a Roubo street located in an area inhabited by furniture manufacturers.
See also
Gallery
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Roubo workbench -
Roubo era saw
Further reading
- Roubo, André Jacob. (2002). Description des arts et des métiers. Le menuisier en bâtiment. Bibliothèque de l'image. ISBN 978-2914661423
References
- ^ Landis, Scott (1998) The Workbench Book, Taunton Press
External links
