THE ARCHITECTURE OF LEON BATISTA ALBERTI - Archimedes

794 Pages·2004·0.95 MB·English

1
THE ARCHITECTURE OF LEON BATISTA ALBERTI IN TEN BOOKS
LEON BATTISTA ALBERTI
Printed by Edward Owen
London 1755
1
1
On ribbon: "May it [he?] gleam with the greatest beauty."
2
1
THE
PREFACE.
Our Ancestors have left us many and various Arts tending to the Pleasure and
Conveniency of Life, acquired with the greatest Industry and Diligence:
Which Arts, though they all pretend, with a Kind of Emulation, to have in
View the great End of being serviceable to Mankind; yet we know that each
of them in particular has something in it that seems to promise a distinct and
s parate Fruit: Some Arts we follow for Necessity, some we approve for their
Usefulness, and some we esteem because they lead us to the Knowledge of Things that are de−
lightsul. What these Arts are, it is not necessary for me to enumerate; for they are obvious.
But if you take a View of the whole Circle of Arts, you shall hardly find one but what, despis−
ing all others, regards and seeks only its own particular Ends: Or if you do meet with any of
such a Nature that you can in no wise do without it, and which yet brings along with it Pro−
sit at the same Time, conjoined with Pleasure and Honour, you will, I believe, be convinced,
that Architecture is not to be excluded from that Number. For it is certain, if you examine
the Matter carefully, it is inexpressibly delightful, and of the greatest Convenience to Mankind
in all Respects, both publick and private; and in Dignity not inferior to the most excellent. But
before I proceed further, it will not be improper to explain what he is that I allow to be an
Architect: For it is not a Carpenter or a Joiner that I thus rank with the greatest Masters in
other Sciences; the manual Operator being no more than an Instrument to the Architect.
Him I call an Architect, who, by sure and wonderful Art and Method, is able, both with
Thought and Invention, to devise, and, with Execution, to compleat all those Works, which,
by means of the Movement of great Weights, and the Conjunction and Amassment of Bodies,
can, with the greatest Beauty, be adapted to the Uses of Mankind: And to be able to do this,
he must have a thorough Insight into the noblest and most curious Sciences. Such must be the
Architect. But to return.
SOME have been of Opinion, that either Water or Fire were the principal Occasions of bring−
ing Men together into Societies; but to us, who consider the Usefulness and Necessity of Co−
verings and Walls, it seems evident, that they were the chief Causes of assembling Men toge−
ther. But the only Obligation we have to the Architect is not for his providing us with safe
and pleasant Places, where we may shelter ourselves from the Heat of the Sun, from Cold and
Tempest, (though this is no small Benefit); but for having besides contrived many other
Things, both of a private and publick Nature of the highest Use and Convenience to the Life
of Man. How many noble Families, reduced by the Calamity of the Times, had been utterly
lost, both in our own native City, and in others, had not their paternal Habitations preserved
and cherished them, as it were, in the Bosom of their Forefathers. Dædalus in his Time was
greatly esteemed for having made the Selinuntians a Vault, which gathered so warm and kindly
a Vapour, as provoked a plentiful Sweat, and thereby cured their Distempers with great Ease
3
1
and Pleasure. Why need I mention others who have contrived many Things of the like Sort
conducive to Health; as Places for Exercise, for Swimming, Baths and the like? Or why
should I instance in Vehicles, Mills, Time−measures, and other such minute Things, which
nevertheless are of great Use in Life? Why should I insist upon the great Plenty of Waters
brought from the most remote and hidden Places, and employed to so many different and use−
ful Purposes? Upon Trophies, Tabernacles, sacred Edifices, Churches and the like, adapted
4
1
to divine Worship, and the Service of Posterity? Or lastly, why should I mention the Rocks
cut, Mountains bored through, Vallies filled up, Lakes confined, Marshes discharged into the
Sea, Shi s built, Rivers turned, their Mouths cleared, Bridges laid over them, Harbours formed,
not only serving to Men' s immediate Conveniencies, but also opening them a Way to all Parts
of the World; whereby Men have been enabled mutually to furnish one ano her with Provisi−
ons, Spices, Gems, and to communicate their Knowledge, and whatever else is healthful or
pleasurable. Add to these the Engines and Machines of War, Fortresses, and the like Inventi−
ons necessary to the Defending the Liberty of our Country, Maintaining the Honour, and En−
creasing the Greatness of a City, and to the Acquisition and Establishment of an Empire. I
am really persuaded, that if we were to enquire of all the Cities which, within the Memory of
Man, have fallen by Siege into the Power of new Masters, who it was that subjected and over−
came them, they would tell you, the Architect; and that they were strong enough to have
despised the armed Enemy, but not to withstand the Shocks of the Engines, the Violence of
the Machines, and the Force of the other Instruments of War, with which the Architect dis−
tressed, demolished and ruinated them. And the Besieged, on the contrary, would inform
you, that their greatest Defence lay in the Art and Assistance of the Architect. And if you
were to examine into the Expeditions that have been undertaken, you would go near to find
that most of the Victories were gained more by the Art and Skill of the Architects, than by the
Conduct or Fortune of the Generals; and that the Enemy was oftener overcome and conquered
by the Architect' s Wit, without the Captain' s Arms, than by the Captain' s Arms without the
Architect' s Wit: And what is of great Consequence is, that the Architect conquers with a
small Number of Men, and without the Loss of Troops. Let this suffice as to the Usefulness
of this Art.
BUT how much the Study and Subject of Building delights, and how firmly it is rooted in
the Mind of Man, appears from several Instances, and particularly from this; that you shall
find no body who has the Means but what has an Inclination to be building something: And
if a Man has happened to think of any Thing new in Architecture, he is sond of communicat−
ing and divulging it for the Use of others, as if constrained thereto by Nature. And how osten
does it fall out, that even when we are employed upon other Things, we cannot keep our
Thoughts and Imaginations, from Projecting some Edisice? And when we see other Men' s
Houses, we immediately set about a careful Examination of all the Proportions and Dimensions,
and, to the best of our Ability, consider what might be added, retrenched or altered; and pre−
sently give our Opinions how it might be made more compleat or beautiful. And if a Build−
ing be well laid out, and justly finished, who is he that does not view it with the utmost Plea−
sure and Delight? But why need I mention not only how much Benefit and Delight, but how
much Glory to Architecture has brought to Nations, which have cultivated it both at home
and abroad? Who that has built any publick Edifice does not think himself honoured by it,
when it is reputable to a Man only to have built a handsome Habitation for himself? Men of
publick Spirits approve and rejoice when you have raised a fine Wall or Portico, and adorned
5
1
it with Portals, Columns, and a handsome Roof, knowing you have thereby not only served
yourself, but them too, having by this generous Use of your Wealth, gained an Addition of
great Honour to yourself, your Family, your Descendants, and your City. The Sepulchre of
Jupiter was the first Step to the ennobling the Island of Crete; and Delos was not so much
respected for the Oracle of Apollo, as for the beautiful Structure of the City, and the Majesty of
the Temple. How much Authority accrued to the Roman Name and Empire from their
Buildings, I shall dwell upon no further, than that the Sepulchres and other Remains of the
ancient Magnificence, every where to be found, are a great Inducement and Argument with us
for believing many Things related by Historians, which might otherwise have seemed incredible.
Thucydides extreamly commends the Prudence of some Ancients, who had so adorned their City
with all Sorts of fine Structures, that their Power thereby appeared to be much greater than it
really was. And what potent or wise Prince can be named, that among his chief Projects for
eternizing his Name and Posterity, did not make Use of Architecture. But of this enough.
The Conclusion is, that for the Service, Security, Honour and Ornament of the Publick, we
are exceedingly obliged to the Architect; to whom, in Time of Leisure, we are indebted for
6
1
Tranquility, Pleasure and Health, in Time of Business for Assistance and Profit; and in both,
sor Security and Dignity. Let us not therefore deny that he ought to be praised and esteemed,
and to be allowed a Place, both for the wonderful and ravishing Beauty of his Works, and for
the Necessity, Serviceableness, and Strength of the Things which he has invented, among the
Chief of those who have deserved Honour and Rewards from Mankind. The Consideration of
these Things induced me, for my Diversion, to look a little further into this Art and its Ope−
rations, from what Principles it was derived, and of what Parts it consisted: And finding them
of various Kinds, in Number almost infinite, in their Nature marvellous, of Use incredible, in−
somuch that it was doubtful what Condition of Men, or what Part of the Commonwealth, or
what Degree in the City, whether the Publick or Private, Things sacred or profane, Repose or
Labour, the Individual or the whole human Species, was most obliged to the Architect, or
rather Inventor of all Conveniencies; I resolved, for several Reasons, too tedious here to re−
peat, to collect all those Things which are contained in these Ten Books. In treating of which,
we shall observe this Method: We consider that an Edisice is a Kind of Body consisting, like
all other Bodies, of Design and of Matter; the first is produced by the Thought, the other by
Nature; so that the one is to be provided by the Application and Contrivance of the Mind,
and the other by due Preparation and Choice. And we further reflected, that neither the one
nor the other of itself was sufficient, without the Hand of an experienced Artificer, that knew
how to form his Materials after a just Design. And the Use of Edisices being various, it was
necessary to enquire whether one and the same Kind of Design was fit for all Sorts of Buildings;
upon which Account we have distinguished the several Kinds of Buildings: Wherein perceiv−
ing that the main Point was the just Composition and Relation of the Lines among themselves,
from whence arises the Height of Beauty, I therefore began to examine what Beauty really was,
and what Sort of Beauty was proper to each Edifice. And as we often meet with Faults in all
these Respects, I considered how they might be altered or amended. Every Book therefore
has its Title prefixed to it, according to the Variety of the Subject: The First treats of Designs;
the Second, of Materials; the Third, of the Work; the Fourth, of Works in general; the
Fifth, of Works in particular; the Sixth, of Ornaments in general; the Seventh, of the Orna−
ments proper for sacred Edifices; the Eighth, of those for publick and profane ones; The
Ninth, of those for the Houses of private Persons; the Tenth, of Amendments and Alterations
in Buildings: To which is added, a various History of Waters, and how they are found, and
what Use is to be made of the Architect in all these Works: As also Four other Books, Three of
which treat of the Art of Painting; and the Fourth, of Sculpture.
7
1
The TABLE of CONTENTS.
BOOK I.
CHAP. I. Of Designs; their Value and Rules.
CHAP. II. Of the first Occasion of erecting Edifices;
of how many Parts the Art of Building consists, and
what is necessary to each of those Parts.
CHAP. III. Of the Region of the Climate or Air, of the
Sun and Winds which affect the Air.
CHAP. IV. Which Region is, and which is not commodi−
ous for Building.
CHAP. V. By what Marks and Characters we are to
know the Goodness of the Region.
CHAP. VI. Of some hidden Conveniencies and Inccnveni−
encies of the Region which a wise Man ought to enquire
into.
CHAP. VII. Of the Seat, or Platform, and of the several
Sorts of Lines.
CHAP. VIII. Of the Kinds of Platforms, their Forms and
Figures, and which are the most serviceable and lasting.
CHAP. IX. Of the Compartition, and of the Origin of
Building.
CHAP. X. Of the Columns and Walls, and some Observa−
tions relating to the Columns.
CHAP. XI. Of the great Usefulness of the Coverings both
to the Inhabitants and the other Parts of the Building,
and that being various in their Natures, they must be
made of various Sorts.
8
1
CHAP. XII. Of the Apertures in the Building, that is to
say, of the Windows and Doors, and of those which do
not take up the whole Thickness of the Wall, and their
Number and Sizes.
CHAP. XIII. Of the Stair−cases, and their different Sorts;
of Steps of the Stairs which ought to be in odd Numbers,
and how many. Of the Resting−places, of the Tunnels
for carrying away the Smoke. Of Pipes and Conduits
for carrying off the Water, and of the proper placing of
Wells and Sinks.
BOOK II.
CHAP. I. Treating of the Materials. That no Man
ought to begin a Building hastily, but should
first take a good deal of Time to consider, and revolve in
his Mind all the Qualities and Requisites of such a Work:
And that he should carefully review and examine, with
the Advice of proper Judges, the whole Structure in it−
self, and the Proportions and Measures of every distinct
Part, not only in Draughts or Paintings, but in actual
Models of Wood or some other Substance, that when he
has finished his Building, he may not repent of his Labour.
CHAP. II. That we ought to undertake nothing above our
Abilities, nor strive against Nature, and that we ought
also not only to consider what we can do, but what is fit
for us to do, and in what Place it is that we are to build.
CHAP. III. That having considered the whole Disposition
of the Building in all the Parts of the Model, we ought
to take the Advice of prudent and understanding Men,
and before we begin our Work, it will not only be proper
to know how to raise Money for the Expence, but also
long before−hand to provide all the Materials for com−
pleating such an Undertaking.
CHAP. IV. What Materials are to be provided for the
Building, what Workmen to be chose, and in what Sea−
9
1
sons, according to the Opinions of the Ancients, to cut
Timber.
CHAP. V. Of preserving the Trees after they are cut,
what to plaister or anoint them with, of the Remedies
against their Infirmities, and of allotting them their pro−
per Places in the Building.
CHAP. VI. What Woods are most proper for Buildings,
their Nature and Uses, how they are to be employed, and
in what Part of the Edifice each Kind is most fit for.
CHAP. VII. Of Trees more summarily and in general.
CHAP. VIII. Of Stones in general, when they are to be
dug, and when used; which are the softest and which
the hardest, and which best and most durable.
CHAP. IX. Some Things worthy memorial, relating to
Stones, left us by the Ancients.
CHAP. X. Of the Origin of the Use of Bricks, in what
Season they ought to be made, and in what Shapes, their
different Sorts, and the Usefulness of triangular ones;
and briefly, of all other Works made of baked Earth.
CHAP. XI. Of the Nature of Lime and Plaister of Paris,
their Uses and Kinds, wherein they agree and wherein
they differ, and of some Things not unworthy of Memory.
CHAP. XII. Of the three different Kinds of Sands, and of the
various Materials used in Building in different Places.
CHAP. XIII. Whether the Observation of Times and Sea−
sons is of any Use in beginning a Building; what Sea−
son is most convenient; as also, with what Auguries or
Prayers we ought to set out upon our Work.
BOOK III.
10