Reprographic Processes

The production of several copies of a single drawing throughout most of the twentieth century was done through different reprographic processes. Blueprints, diazotypes, and photostats, among many other photoreproduction processes, depend on the use of a variety of light sensitive materials, including papers coated with chemicals such as iron and diazo salts. Some of these reprographic prints were then annotated in pencil and ink, others were rendered over in watercolor, felt tip markers, or colored pencils. The identification of these processes in twentieth century collections is critical for their long-term preservation.

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elevations

Reprographic image of right side elevation of Facade House.

Mask House; Right Side Section (diazotype; 25 1/2″ x 9 3/4″)

Reprographic process of back facade with hidden masks of Facade House.

Mask House; Back Facade with Hidden Masks (diazotype; 25 1/2″ x 9 3/4″)

Reprographic drawing of left side elevation of Facade House.

Mask House; Left Side Elevation (diazotype; 25 1/2″ x 9 3/4″)

plans

Drawing of first floor of Fountain 'House.

Fountain House; 1st floor [Floor Plan, Scale 1:50] (sepia diazotype on lightweight paper; 40″ x 29″)

Second Floor Plan of Fountain House.

Fountain House; 2nd Floor [Floor Plan, Scale 1:50] (sepia diazotype on lightweight paper; 25 1/4″ x 23 3/4″)

Third floor plan of Fountain House.

Fountain House; 3rd Floor [Floor Plan, Scale 1:50] (sepia diazotype on lightweight paper; 35 1/2″ x 24″)

Fourth Floor Plan of Fountain House.

Fountain House; 4th Floor [Floor Plan, Scale 1:50] (sepia diazotype on lightweight paper; 36″ x 23 1/2″)

Reprographic image of Facade House second floor plan.

Mask House; Floor Plan 2 (diazotype; 25″ x 25 1/2″)

Ink drawing of country house second floor plan.

Country House;Second floor plan [Floor Plan, Scale 1:50] (electrostatic copy on mylar (matte front, gloss back); 18″ x 18″)

Ink drawing of country house mezzanine floor plan.

Country House; Mezzanine floor plan [Floor Plan, Scale 1:50] (electrostatic copy on mylar (matte front, gloss back); 18″ x 18″)

sections

Drawing of Fountain House section AA.

Fountain House; Section A.A [Scale 1:50] (sepia diazotype on lightweight paper; 24″ x 35 1/2″)

Drawing of Fountain House Section BB.

Fountain House; Section B.B [Scale 1:50] (sepia diazotype on lightweight paper; 24″ x 35 1/2″)

interior perspectives

interior perspective drawing of fountain house.

Fountain House; [Interior perspective, Signed Silvetti, “VII-75″] (sepia diazotype with pen ink signature on lightweight paper; 29″ x 29”)

Frances Loeb Library

Explore the collection further in the Finding Aid or plan your visit to Frances Loeb Library.

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The Rodolfo Machado & Jorge Silvetti Collection

This site was made possible thanks to the support of Jorge Silvetti, Nelson Robinson Jr. Professor of Architecture, Emeritus and Ann Whiteside, Librarian/Assistant Dean for Information Services at the Frances Loeb Library.

Developed in collaboration with Ines Zalduendo, Special Collections Curator at the Frances Loeb Library, M.Arch ’95 and Ashleigh Brady, Archival Collections Website Editor, M.Arch ’26.

Digital scans in collaboration with by Harvard Library Imaging Services, Alix Reiskind, Associate Librarian, Research and Teaching at the Frances Loeb Library.