Graphic Representation of the Organization of the Encyclopédie

In 2012 I acquired a remarkable folding engraving, which was extracted from the Supplément à l' Encyclopédie ou dictionnaire des sciences by Diderot et d'Alembert. This extremely large and intricately engraved tree of knowledge created in 1769 by Chrétien Fréderic Guillaume Roth of Weimar, and engraved by Benard, was entitled Essai d'une Distribution généologique des Sciences et des Arts principaux. Selon l'Explication détaillée du Systême des Connissances Humaines dans le Discours préliminaire des Editeurs de l'Encyclopédie publiée par M. Diderot et M. d'Alembert à Paris en 1751. Reduit en cette forme pour découvrir la Connoisance Humaine d'un coup d'oeil.

Remarkably Roth's tree of knowledge appears to have been engraved and printed from one very large copperplate.  The thick, folded sheet on which my copy was printed measures 925 x 622 mm. with the engraved surface measuring 900 x 597 mm.

When I wrote this entry in May 2013 I was unable to find any information concerning Chrétien Roth except for the general awareness that he created this graphic representation of the organization of knowledge.