Lessons of Mars

This very little-known work, kept at the Biblioteca da Ajuda under the shelfmark 49-III-6, is found in a volume together with the unpublished Manuscrito da Espada (also in our catalogue).

It is a re-interpretation of Pacheco’s posthumous work, Nueva Ciencia. Beyond completing it with missing information, such as the lost engravings not present in the published version of Pacheco’s book, the author took an eminently practical approach, didactic in purpose, dividing the book in «Lições» (Lessons), each preceded with an illustrative engraving, introducing progressively new concepts, from theoretical geometric elements to steps and footwork, to techniques such as the atalho or the movement of conclusion. This approach makes this book one of the best options when looking for a whole, comprehensive Destreza textbook.