ABSTRACT
Paris, December 31st, 1671. The Royal Academy of the King is established by Monseigneur Colbert, in one of the chambers of the Louvre . . . Monsieur Blondel, professor of mathematics and architecture opens the session with a lecture on the excellence of architecture . . .’ The program of the academy was as follows: ‘Tuesday and Friday, Blondel gave a public lecture from two to four in the afternoon. During the first hour he dictated his lessons and during the second, he explained the elements of Euclid and other knowledge necessary for architects. Every Thursday there were special meetings . . . to discuss the art and the rules of architecture’ and to open, once more Blondel spoke on ‘what good taste is . . . which . . . marks the excellence of the works of architecture.’ The subject stayed on in the discussions for more than one session. There was some disagreement as to whether that which caused buildings to be beautiful was ‘positive’ or ‘arbitrary.’2
