Sketches of mechanisms

Some historians have speculated that a sketchbook compiled between 1225 and 1235 AD by Villard de Honnecourt could contain designs of the earliest known timekeeping escapement. The book has been digitized and is available in its entirety at the link below.

Sketchbook by Villard de Honnecourt

The sketch in question shown here is very simple compared to the artistic style and detail of other sketches in the book. The sketch is described as Escapement, “How to make an angel, keep pointing his finger toward the sun.”

The reference is included here not to confirm or endorse these positions but to share the information that questions and dilutes the emphasis or certainty that exists in some historical references.

A good summary of the context can be found at these links:

Avista – Was Villard de Honnecourt an architect?

The article above presents a thorough and well reasoned analysis of the sketchbook. But the conclusion some may lean towards is simply that Villard de Honnecourt was an accomplished artist with a variety of interests.

Medievalists – medieval-sketches-villard-de-honnecourt/

History Computer – Villard de Honnecourt

The Mechanical Clock

Engines of Our Ingenuity – Medieval Architects

Engines of our ingenuity – The first mechanical clocks

WGA – From life.