UNIVERSITY OF 
 ILLINOIS LIBRARY 
 AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 

 assssnnaasis! 
 
 
 
 g^.;.. 
 
 CONSTRUCTION 
 
 ROESLING 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 m T. Comstock 
 
 1888. 
 
 22221 !: 
 
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 Copyright, F. ROESLING, 1888 
 
 JJ 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The object of this work is to show in a condensed form, by means of the following Plates, 
 the construction of Gothic Details, and the development and character of the typical forms of 
 the various periods in the Gothic Era. 
 
 Many details, found in ancient structures in other parts of the world, have been care¬ 
 fully and diligently examined; and the student who is not able to visit the grand ecclesiastical 
 buildings erected by our ancestors will find much information in the adapted geometrical con¬ 
 structions which older and highly esteemed authors have studied and laid before us, to be 
 applied wherever beauty, in conformity with economy and aesthetic taste, is desired. 
 
 To give an analysis of the development and system of Gothic Architecture, from the 
 twelfth century to the period of the Renaissance, is not the motive of this work, and has not 
 been attempted. 
 
 On PLATE i 
 
 The characteristic form of arches represented are : 
 
 Figs. 2, 3, 4.—SEGMENT ARCHES, in which the centers of 
 the segments are located below the spring-line of the arch. 
 
 Fig- 5 -SEMI-CIRCULAR ARCH. Its center is found in 
 
 spring-line of the arch. 
 
 Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9.— POINTED SEGMENT ARCHES, of 
 
 which aie represented in : 
 
 Fig. 6.—THE TUDOR ARCH, having four centers. Two of 
 its centers are located in the spring-line; the two others are 
 below, at the extremities of the span. 
 
 Figs. 7, 8.—POINTED ARCHES. Each arch is described 
 from two centers, which are located below the spring-line, at the 
 extremity of the span. 
 
 Fig. 9.—DROP ARCH. It is described from two centers 
 located in the spring-line, with radii shorter than the span of 
 the arch. 
 
 On PLATE 2 
 
 The arches represented are : 
 
 Fig. 1.—THE EQUILATERAL ARCH. It is described from 
 two centers, which are located in the spring-line at the extremity 
 of the span of the arch. 
 
 Fig. 2.—THE LANCET ARCH. Described from two centers 
 in the spring-line beyond the extremity of the span, at a distance 
 equal to the diagonal of the width of the span. 
 
 Fig. 3.—A LANCET ARCH. It is described from two centers 
 lying in the spring-line beyond the extremities of the span, at a 
 distance equal to the width of the span. 
 
 Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8.—THE OGEE, OR CONTRASTED 
 ARCHES, AND THE FOILED ARCH. These arches 
 are described from three to five centers. See lines of construc¬ 
 tion with the centerpoints at their extremities. 
 
 For the sake of brevity, the line passing through springs of an arch 
 is termed spring-line. 
 
 PLATE 3 
 
 represents the division of the periphery of the circle, to enable 
 the students to find, by mechanical construction, the length of 
 sides of the trihedron, square, pentagon sexagon, octagon and 
 decagon, etc., as indicated and described. 
 
 PLATE 4 
 
 represents ground plans and elevations of paneled piers, indicat¬ 
 ing construction of depth and mode of sinking of panels. 
 
 PLATES 5 and 6 
 
 represent ground plans and elevations of bases, and paneled 
 and truncated shafts, suitably applied to support, decorated 
 work, etc. 
 
 PLATES 7 and 8 
 
 represent mode of construction of from three to six foils, placed 
 on the trihedron, square, pentagon and sexagon, with some 
 application of designs, etc. 
 
 PLATES 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 
 
 represent the adoption of flowing tracery in Gothic art of later 
 date. The student should be guided : 
 
 First —By the lightly drawn lines of construction, in order to 
 establish the correct centers of circles and their segments, and to 
 obtain the true nature of design; 
 
 Next —By constructing correct center lines, which are more 
 distinctly seen than the lines of construction. 
 
 When the desired form of design has been obtained, then lay 
 on or apply suitable moulding on the established center lines, 
 in order to miter the adapted mouldings. 
 
 The rest of the Plates represent the application of the foregoing geometrical construc¬ 
 tions, which give evidence that, by the adoption of the herein given geometrical lines of con¬ 
 struction, an innumerable variety of Gothic designs can be produced, which, without difficulty, 
 can be enlarged or diminished without the loss of proportion in the design. 
 
'3 
 
 UftRAKY 
 
 MfVfRSW of ,LL,N0,S 
 
 URBANA' CHAMPAIGN 
 
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 PREFACE. 
 
 In submitting to the building profession this compilation of “gothic 
 details,” the author desires to supply a long felt want, so that not 
 alone architects, builders and draughtsmen, but also beginners and 
 artisans in general can study the fundamental rules of the gothic style 
 without much loss of time. 
 
 A rule of construction for every detail is given, which permits no 
 modification of geometrical lines, for the historical value of this style 
 strictly forbids any deviation from the geometrically and mathematic¬ 
 ally correct lines. 
 
 It requires only a brief study of the accompanying details of the 
 gothic style to make various designs in a manner identical with that 
 employed by our ancestors; and while many structures have been put 
 up in the spirit of our present time, it is frequently necessary to apply 
 such details which unite beauty, economy, as well as comfort, and 
 every architect, builder and draughtsman, in enlarging or reducing 
 forms of structures erected in former times, should not destroy the 
 general character of such buildings, but should strictly adhere to the 
 established rules of the gothic style. 
 
 The details of construction herein given, it must be understood, 
 are the productions of the genius of our ancestors, and they are herein 
 reproduced, especially for enlarging or reducing the proportions, with¬ 
 out running the risk of losing design or time in construing or carry¬ 
 
 ing out the details. 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 
 
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LIBRARY 
 
 JNfVERSITY OF ILLINb 
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 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
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PENTAGON 
 
 OCTAGON 
 
 DECAGON. 
 
 Intersect Periphery with length of Radius a-b. 
 Each intersection produces the vertex of the angles 
 in the Sexagon. 
 
 Divide Radius a-b in one-half, which point gives 
 the Center c: describe the Segment d-e. The dis¬ 
 tance e-f is equal to one-half of the length of one 
 side of the Octagon. 
 
 Divide Radius a-b in one-half, which point gives 
 Center c; describe the Segment d-e. The distance 
 e-a is equal to the length of one side of the Decagon. 
 
 CONSTRUCTION OF THE PENTAGON 
 
 BY THE 
 
 GIVEN LENGTH OF ONE SIDE. 
 
 a-b. 
 
 Set compass in a; open it to the given length ot 
 side a-b, and describe section of a circle c-d: set 
 compass in b, and describe the same kind section of 
 a circle e-f: set compass in h, and intersect with 
 the same opening of the compass the already de¬ 
 scribed sections of circles in e and c; then draw the 
 lines c-f and e-d through center point g, and the 
 ends of lines b-f and a-d are given with adjacent 
 angles. 
 
 % 
 
 
 
 DIVISION 
 
 OK 
 
 PERI 
 
 PH 
 
 ERY 
 
 OF THE CIRCLE 
 
 TRIHEDRON. 
 
 Intersect Periphery with length of Radius a-b six 
 times; take two points of intersections for each ver¬ 
 tex of angles in the Trihedron. 
 
 SEXAGON. 
 
 IN 
 
 SQUARE. 
 
 Divide Radius a-b in one-half, which gives the 
 Center c of Segment d-e. The length of the Segment 
 is equal to the length of one side of the Pentagon. 
 
* 
 
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This document or hook has been deacidified by 
 WEI T’O solution to maintain its integrity and condition. 
 
 April 1 , 1980-Mending/Restoration at the U. of I . Library 
 
 Date: ' 
 
 Original portfolio was 
 
 repaired 5 and folding container made.