Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers

Art Historical Context

Step into the Enlightenment with the *Encyclopédie, ouictionnaire raisonné des, des arts et des*, a monumental 17-volume masterpiece edited by Denis Diderot and Jean Le Rond'Alembert, published between 1751 and 1765 by Briasson and others. This wasn't just a book—it was a revolutionary project to catalog all human knowledge, from philosophy and science to crafts like watchmaking and surgery. Born amid France's intellectual ferment, it challenged Church and royal censorship, smuggling radical ideas of reason, progress, and equality into thousands of homes across Europe. What makes this set artistically and culturally vital? Its thousands of intricate engravings—depicting tools, machines, and techniques—elevated practical arts to scholarly status, blending text with visual precision. These fold-out plates, produced by skilled engravers, turned abstract knowledge into tangible diagrams, influencing everything from industrial design to modern encyclopedias. Measuring 15¾ inches tall, this rare complete edition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Libraries comes from the bequest of Marianne Khuner, a testament to its enduring legacy as a cornerstone of the Age of Reason. Today, it reminds us how printed works can spark revolutions in thought, inviting visitors to ponder: What knowledge would you immortalize?

About the Artist

Denis Diderot|Jean Le Rond d'Alembert|Briasson (Italian|French) · |1713 – |1784

|French, 1713–1784