ABSTRACT
The public is awaiting my response to the remarks of M. Frézier. He says firstly that to weed out abuse in the works of those who have acquired themselves
a reputation in architecture, one must at least be something of a builder, which is to say, have some idea of building, be acquainted with the materials used, etc. I might repudiate this maxim. For every day one sees persons with some taste for painting who can clearly discern the beauty of the draughtsmanship in a painting, its use of colour, its handling of light and shade and so on, and the defects which may be found therein, without knowing the manner of drawing, the mixture of colours, or even having the first idea of how to paint. The same holds for the other arts. But I would rather forgive my Reverend Father his maxim. How does he know that I have not some idea of building, etc.? Is it because he feels I decide too freely on the defects of certain works, which have hitherto earned the admiration of all Europe? This proves nothing: for I can assure him that I have more than some idea of all that he points to. I am, without wishing to brag, a competent draughtsman. I even paint in a manner not unpleasant to those with a measure of taste. I might also say that I know how to handle a hammer and chisel; and that I have devised the odd piece of architecture that has been found passable enough.
