Villard's Legacy: Studies in Medieval Technology, Science, and Art in Memory of Jean Gimpel (review)
David S. Bachrach
Reviewed by: Villard’s Legacy: Studies in Medieval Technology, Science, and Art Memory of Jean Gimpel David S. Bachrach (bio) Gimpel. Edited by Marie-Thérèse Zenner. Aldershot, Hants., Burlington, Vt.: Ashgate, 2004. Pp. lxiv+300. $99.95. Villard's Legacy is a worthy memorial to the scholar humanitarian Gimpel, whose achievements include founding AVISTA—Association Villard de Honnecourt for Interdisciplinary Study Art. This volume, edited Zenner, includes fourteen studies divided into two sections: Architecture (eight essays), Science Technology (six essays). It also contains useful introduction short biographical essays dealing with Gimpel's life work, bibliography his scholarship, selected folios from celebrated thirteenth-century portfolio famed artist Honnecourt, medieval hero. The first six focus on use it both gain insight thinking obtain broader understanding world which he lived. In considering these questions, William Clark, after careful reassessment numerous depictions Rheims Cathedral, shows that was an enthusiast love process building, but lacked clear theories underlay building process. Clark argues differences between drawings actual construction cathedral, long noted scholars, were result errors rather than evidence changes plan, as once had been thought. Nigel Hiscock's examination architectural geometry points conclusions regarding perceptions uses thirteenth century. Rather insisting sealed-off worlds practice theory, Hiscock indicates scholars should look toward model both/and either/or when how builders philosophers contemplated practical allegorical roles geometry. Although included section Robert Bork's study cathedral spires Malcom Thurlby's tufa webbing vaults have portfolio. Both consider cathedrals order draw attention previously neglected aspects construction. each case, Bork Thurlby make only examining large select corpus data historians architecture, extension all historians, can valuable broad-gauged conclusions. second are more heterogeneous, geographical temporal range those first. D. Stevick considers geometric design art architecture [End Page 635] Ireland Northumberland sixth century through tenth. Alan M. Stahl examines technology coin minting Venice fifteenth century, identifying interconnection technological advance economic this most important state industries. Wesley Stevens reevaluates transmission Euclidean Latin Carolingian empire its successor states, focusing difficulties presented surviving manuscripts teachers students ninth sixteenth centuries. He concludes well known studied West before translations Euclid Arabic made available twelfth greatest significance relationship culture Paul J. Gans's reexamination development horse harness impact agricultural production. After brief discussion question, Gans emphasizes horses significant factor mix beasts burden gradual revolutionary phenomenon. Even "modern" collar, dated there simply too few replace oxen traditionally used plowing other...
Technology and Culture