Les Travaux de Mars, l'Art de la Guerre, c1684.

by Mallet, Alain Manesson

Infantry bivouac. Various tents, clothes and activities. Mallet c1684 (later colour).

Mallet's first publication, in 1671, was on military science and the art of siege warfare. In 1684 Mallet published his updated work Travaux de Mars, ou l’Art de la Guerre, and provided engraved diagrams for the fortifications of cities and towns throughout Europe, including small scenes “to inspire young nobles to learn to draw, because in fortifications, drawing is not simply a noble propriety, but an absolute necessity”.

Alain Manesson Mallet (1630-1706), studied mathematics and geometry at the College of Burgundy, under the military engineer, Philippe Mallet (1606-1679). After military service as a musketeer in the guards regiment of Louis XIV he became a military engineer. Mallet went to Portugal, and under the command of Marshal Schomberg, rose to the rank of sargento-mor (equivalent to commander) of artillery, and inspector of fortifications. At the end of the Portuguese War of Independence, Mallet returned to France, and was appointed mathematics teacher of the pages of the King in Little Stable, Versailles - where he had time to write.