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Oliver Byrne

The First Six Books of the Elements of Euclid
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Nearly a century before Mondrian made geometrical red, yellow, and blue lines famous, 19th-century mathematician Oliver Byrne applied this colour scheme to his 1847 edition of Euclid's Elements, a mathematical and geometric treatise. Byrne’s innovative use of colour was intended to simplify learning and "diffuse permanent knowledge." This facsimile edition celebrates a masterwork that combines bold, vibrant diagrams with mathematical precision, anticipating the design movements of De Stijl and Bauhaus. It stands as a pioneering example of information graphics that blend art and science.
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Format: Hardback
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Ideal for enthusiasts of graphic design, mathematics, art history, and those interested in the visual communication of information.

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Discover one of the oddest and most beautiful books of the 19th century: Oliver Byrne's edition of Euclid's Elements. This work of art and science combines vivid primary colors and mathematical precision in a display of geometric form. Elements anticipates Bauhaus design and even modern info graphics used by news organizations.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Nearly a century before Mondrian made geometrical red, yellow, and blue lines famous, 19th-century mathematician Oliver Byrne employed the colour scheme for his 1847 edition of Euclid's mathematical and geometric treatise Elements. Byrne's idea was to use colour to make learning easier and "diffuse permanent knowledge." The result has been described as one of the oddest and most beautiful books of the 19th century.

The facsimile of Byrne's seminal publication is now available in a beautiful new edition. A masterwork of art and science, it is as remarkable in the boldness of its red, yellow, and blue figures and diagrams as it is in the mathematical precision of its theories. In the simplicity of forms and colours, the pages anticipate the vigour of De Stijl and Bauhaus design. In making complex information at once accessible and aesthetically engaging, this work is a forerunner to the information graphics that today define much of our data consumption.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Every graphic designer, book lover and math nerd will be awestruck. – The New York Times

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9783836577380

Publisher: Taschen GmbH

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 20 May 2022

Country: Germany

Imprint: Taschen GmbH

Edition: Multilingual edition

Contributors:

  • Edited by Werner Oechslin

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 40.0mm

Width: 205.0mm

Height: 256.0mm

Weight: 1719g

Pages: 396

About the Author

Werner Oechslin studied art history, archaeology, philosophy, and mathematics. After doctoral studies in Zurich in 1970 he taught at MIT and Harvard University. Since 1985 he has been a professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, where he led the Institute for the History and Theory of Architecture from 1986 to 2006. His research focuses on architectural theory and the cultural history of architecture. His most recent publication is Palladianismus: Andrea Palladio – Werk und Wirkung (2008). He is the founder of Bibliothek Werner Oechslin in Einsiedeln.

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