An Abridgment of the Architecture of Vitruvius

Vitruvius Pollio

An Abridgment of the Architecture of Vitruvius

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Table of contents

PART I

CHAP. I.

CHAP. II.

CHAP. III.

CHAP. IV.

PART II.

CHAP. I.

CHAP. II.

CHAP. III.

ADVERTISEMENT.

PART I

Of Architecture that is common to us with the Ancients.

CHAP. I.

Of Architecture in General.

ARTICLE I.

Of the Original of Architecture.

Lib. 2.

Chap. 1.

T’s related by Historians, That Men, who in former times inhabited Woods and Caverns like wild Beasts, first assembled themselves to make Houses and Cities, which was occasioned by a Forest that was set on fire, which drew all the Inhabitants together by its novelty and surprizing effects; so that many Men meeting together in the same place, they found out means, by helping one another, to harbour themselves more conveniently, than in Caves and under Trees; so that it is pretended, that Architecture was the Beginning and Original of all other Arts. For Men seeing that they had success in Building, which necessity made them invent, they had the Thoughts and Courage of seeking out other Arts, and applying themselves to them.

Now even as they took Trees, Rocks and other Things that Nature her self furnished Beasts to harbour themselves under, which were made use of as Models for the first Houses, which at first were only made of green Turf and broken Branches of Trees, they made use of them afterwards, in the same manner, to arrive at something more perfect. For passing from the Imitation of the Natural to Lib. 4.

Chap. 2. that of Artificial, they invented all the Ornaments of Edifices that were most curiously wrought, in giving them the Form and Shape of those things that are simply necessary to the most natural Buildings: And the Pieces of Timber of which the Roofs and Floors of Houses are made, were the Original of Pillars , Architraves , Frises , Triglyphs , Mutils , Brackets , Corniches , Frontons or Piediments , which are made of Stone or Marble.

The Pillars which are to be smaller at top than at bottom, were made in Imitation of the Boles or Trunks of Trees, and their use was taken from the Carpenters' Posts that are made to support the Building. The Architraves which are laid across many Pillars , represent Summers that join many Posts together. The Frises imitate the Muring that is raised upon the Summers betwixt the ends of the Beams that are laid directly upon the Pillars . The Triglyphs represent the Ceiling or Joyner’s work which was made upon the ends of the Beams to conserve them. The Corniches are as it were the extream parts of the Joists . The Modillions represent the ends of the Sheers, and the Dentels represent the ends of the principal Rafter . The Frontons are made in imitation of the Firms or Girders , upon which is laid the Roof of the House.

There is likewise another Original of Architecture, which is taken from the Inventers of the several Orders, and those that added the Ornaments to embellish them. For it’s the common Lib. 4.

Chap. 2. Opinion, that the first Fabrick that was made, according to any of the Orders, was the Temple that King Dorus built in Honour of Juno in the City Argos . And it obtained the name of the Dorick Order, when Ion the Conducter of a Colony, which he established in Asia , made many Temples be built according to the Model of the Temple built by Dorus in Greece .

But the Ionians having changed some of the Proportions and Ornaments of the Dorick Order, were the Authors of another Order, which was called the Ionick , according to which, they built a Temple in Honour of Diana . The reason of this change was, that this Temple being dedicated to a Divinity, which they represented under the Shape of a Young Lady, they thought it was proper to make their Pillars more tapering, the better to represent the airy Stature of this Goddess, and for this reason they adorned it more delicately, adding Bases which represent the Buskin'd Ornaments of the Legs and Feet, according to the Mode of that time; and Made the Channellings deeper to represent the Foldings and Plaits of a fine light Garment. They put likewise Volutes or Scrowls upon the Capital , pretending that they imitated the Head-Dress of a Young Lady, whose Hair Beautifully descending from the top of her Head, was folded up under each Ear.

Afterwards Calimachus an Athenian , embellished the Capitals of the Pillars, adding to them more Beautiful Volutes or Scrowls , and more in number, enriching them with the Leaves of Brank Ursine and Roses. It’s said, That this Capital, which, according to Vitruvius , makes all the Distinction betwixt the Corinthian and Ionick Order, was invented by this ingenious Artisan upon this occasion. Having seen the Leaves of the above-mentioned Plant grow round about a Basket which was set upon the Tomb of a Young Corinthian Lady, and which, as it happened, was set upon the middle of the Plant. He represented the Basket by the Tambour or Vase of the Capital, to which he made an Abacus to imitate the Tile with which the Basket was covered, and that he represented the Stalks of the Herb by the Volutes or Scrowls , which were ever after placed upon the Corinthian Capital. See Table the IXth.

This great Artist likewise invented other Ornaments, as those we call Eggs , because of the Ovals in the Relief which are in the Mouldings of the Corniches and are like Eggs . The Ancients called this Ornament Echinus , which signifies the sharp prickly shell of Chestnuts, because they found these Ovals represented a Chestnut half open, as it is when it’s ripe.

Lib. 3.

Chap. 2. He likewise makes mention of another Famous Author, who found out the proportion of all the Parts of a Fabrick, which was Hermogenes ; to whom he attributes the Invention of the Eustyle , Pseudodiptere , and of all that is beautiful and excellent in Architecture.

ART. II.

What Architecture is.

Rchitecture is a Science which ought to be accompanied with the Knowledge of a great many other Arts and Sciences, by which means Lib. 1.

Chap. 1. it forms a correct Judgment of all the Works of other Arts that appertain to it. This Science is acquired by Theory and Practice. The Theory of Architecture is that Knowledge of this Art which is acquired by study, travelling and discourse. The Practick is that knowledge that is acquired by the Actual Building of great Fabricks. These Two Parts are so necessary, that never any came to any great Perfection without them both. The one being lame and imperfect without the other, so they must walk hand in hand.

Besides, the Knowledge of things that particularly belong to Architecture, there are infinite other things that are necessary to be known by an Architect.

For, First, it’s necessary that he be able to couch in writing his intended Building, and to design the Plan, and make an excellent Model of it.

Geometry likewise is very necessary for him in many occasions.

He must also know Arithmetick to make a true Calculation.

He must be knowing in History, and be able to give a reason for the greatest part of the Ornaments of Architecture which are founded upon History. For Example, if instead of Pillars he support the Floors of the House with the figures of Women, which are called Cariatides , he ought to know that the Greeks invented these Figures to let Posterity know the Victories they obtained over the Cariens , whose Wives they made Captives, and put their Images in their Buildings.

It’s necessary likewise, that he be instructed in the Precepts of Moral Philosophy; for he ought to have a great Soul, and be bold without Arrogance, just, faithful, and totally exempt from Avarice.

The Architect also ought to have Lib. 1.

Chap. 11. a great Docility which may hinder him from neglecting the advice that is given him, not only by the meanest Artist, but also by those that understand nothing of Architecture; for not only