This file group comprises Dufour's working papers for a treatise, intended to serve as a textbook to accompany his course on art and design, that was never completed. It comprises drafts of text and illustrations, progressively less finished. The early sections appear to be nearly ready for the press, while later sections consist only of outlines, partial drafts, and sketches. There are a number of transfers of drawings on varnished paper of the kind often made to prepare drawings for engraving. These include a number of architectural studies, suggesting that Dufour had planned to add a fourth part on decorative art, including architecture, hinted at the end of his outline for the course.
17 leaves and 3 half leaves with illustrations, stitched together. The 19 illustrations include geometrical figures and solids in pen and red chalk, pen and ink drawings of a leaf ornament, a flower and classical head, samples of tonal systems, cross-hatching in charcoal, pen and ink, and color wash, and a drawing of the head of Minerva in four progressive stages.
11 leaves, stitched together, with additional diagrams laid in.
13 leaves, stitched together.
19 full sheets, including finished drawings of various perspective and geometrical constructions in different colored inks and washes, along with early sketches and drafts.
Two drafts, one 16 leaves, consisting of an early stage of composition with extensive rewriting, and another 9 leaves with additional loose sheets.
Two drafts in early stages of composition, one 15 leaves and one 6 leaves, with considerable revisions.
18 leaves containing pen and ink drawings and extensive calculations on proportion.