Mensuration, Problem VI - Washington Allston

A technical manuscript page by Washington Allston, detailing a geometric problem in mensuration with a hand-drawn surveying illustration.

This manuscript page, titled Mensuration, Problem VI, offers a glimpse into the early intellectual pursuits of Washington Allston. Produced during his formative years, likely while he was a student at Harvard, the work demonstrates the rigour of eighteenth-century education. The page combines technical instruction with a small, hand-drawn illustration depicting the geometric method for calculating the height of an object from a rising ground.

The illustration features a figure using a surveying instrument, with lines of sight projected toward a distant point. Allston employs a precise, calligraphic hand to detail the mathematical rule, the specific variables of the problem, and the resulting trigonometric calculation. The inclusion of the name 'Ferguson' near the surveying instrument suggests a reference to the popular scientific writings of James Ferguson, whose works on mechanics and astronomy were widely studied in the period.

While Allston is primarily recognised for his later Romantic paintings, this document provides evidence of his early engagement with the Enlightenment tradition of empirical observation and mathematical order. The composition is functional, prioritising clarity and the logical progression of the geometric proof. The ink remains crisp against the aged paper, preserving the exactitude of his handwriting and the delicate lines of the sketch. This piece is an example of the intersection between scientific study and the visual arts in the early American academic context, showing how technical drawing was a standard component of a well-rounded education before the artist turned his focus toward the fine arts.