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EX LIBRIS
The Cooper Union
THE GIFT OF
Abram S. Hewitt
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THE
ARCHITECTURE
O F
A. PALLADIO;
IN FOUR BOOKS
CONTAINING,
Afhort Treatise of the Five Orders, and the molt neceflary Obfervations concerning all Sorts of Building,
AS A L S O
The different Conftru&ion of P r i v a t e and P u b l i c k House s,
High-ways, Bridges, Market-places, Xystes, and
Temples, with their Plans, Se&ions, and Uprights.
To which are added fever al Notes and Obfervations made by In igo Jones,
never printed before.
Revis'd, Defign'd, and Publifli'd
Z?vGIACOMO LEON I, a Venetian ; Architeil to his mofi
Serene Highness, the
ELECTOR PALATINE.
Tranflated from the Italian Original.
LONDON:
Printed by John Watts, for the A u t h or. MDCCXV.
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ALLA
SACRA REAL MAESTA
GIORGIO
RE DELLA GRAN BRETAGNA, FRANCIA ED IRLANDA,
Difenfor délia Fede, ARCITESORIERE
ELETTORE
DEL
S. R. I.
DUCA DI BRUNSWICK E LU NEBUR G, &c, &c. &c
SIRE
\A Tranquillità de' Regni : T>ono immedia- te delï Onnipotente T)io, in niuna cofa rifplende piu ; quanto nelfelice progrejjb délie belï Arti le quali fanno aÏÏ Uomo il piuDeli&iofo edilpiù Nobile délia Qyiete. LAr- chitettura chefervendo molto alla Magnificenza de Trincipi; fomminiftra loro eguale al Grado il fig- giorno; è quella che allor più fiorifce : poichènonfi volgono aile fabbriche di vaghi o grand iofi Edifie 7;
fi
fe non li Defiderj ficuri d' un tranquillo Ripofo. Al pre fente che si gran Dono godeft nelfortunato Regno de lia S.M.V.^vifene veggono abbondanti gli effet ti : E V Architettura con le altre belï Arti v$ torna a far piû dilettofo il frutto della Tace. Or quando e dove mai gli perfetf Infegnamenti fcritti e delineati dalfamofo Andrea Talladio in quejl Arte, poteva- no con tant a magnificenza ufcir di novo alia lor vera Luce y fe non quando e dove laS.M.V. f elk entente regna? Ed una si nobile Imprefa incoraggita dal generofo Intendimento della fplendida Nazione Inglejè, a chi maideve tributarfi ; fe non a Chi ne ilpiùdegno, cioè al loro Sovrano ? Degnate dunque, o SIRE, del vojîro potenùjjimo Tatrocinio un Opra che, Voi ré- gnante ; riforge a dare d vojîri Sudditi i vert Docu- mente di queW Arte che tanto compartifce al godimen- to degli effetti délia ferma Tranquillità dé voftri Regni. Ve ne avranno grand" obbligo non folamente i voftri 'Popo/i ; ma le altre culte Nazioni, e particolarmente î Italia che vedrd tanto dalla S M.V. gradite e pro- tette le immortali Opère d'un fuo célèbre Figlio.
DELLA S.V. M.
L'Umilifïïmo e Fedeliffimo Servo
Giacomo Leoni.
A List of thofe who have already SubfcriUd.
A.
DUKE of St. Albans, Captain Band of Penfioners Duke of Argile Groom of the Stole to the Prince of Wales, P. C. Duke of Ancajier, Lord Great Chamberlain,
P. C. Earl of Abingdon, Chief Juftice in Eyre South
of Trent, P. C. Earl of Arran. Earl of Albemarle. Lord Ajhburnham. Sir Henry AJhurjl, Baronet. Thomas Archer, Efq; Collonel Francis Alexander.
B.
Duke of Bolton, Lord Chamberlain to his Majefty, P. C.
Earl of Bridgwater, Lord Chamberlain to the Princefs of Wales.
Countefs of Burlington.
Earl of Berkeley, Warden of the Foreft of 'Dean, and one of the Admirals of His Ma- jefty s Fleet, P. C.
Earl of Eriftol
Lord Bathurft.
Baron Bothmar.
Lord Bingley.
Lady Mary Bertie.
Honourable Robert Bruce, Efq;
Honourable Henry Bertie, Efq;
Sir John Brownlow, Baronet.
Sir George Beaumont, Baronet.
Orlando Bridgman, Efq;
George Baillie of Jervais-Wood, Efq;
Walter Bagnol, Elq;
Mr. Chrijiopher Bateman, Bookfeller.
C.
Earl of Clarendon.
Earl of Cardigan.
Earl of Carlifle, flrft Commiffioner of the Treafury, P. C.
Earl of Cholmondley, Treafurer of His Maje- fty's Houftiold.
Lord Vifcount Cheyney of Newhaven.
Lord Vifcount Carteret.
Lieutenant-General Cadogan.
Right Honourable Spencer Compton, Efq; Speaker of the Houie of Commons.
Right Honourable Thomas Coke, Efq; Vice- Chamberlain of his Majefty's Houfhold, P.C.
Sir Richard Child, Baronet.
Thomas Cartwright of Ayno, Efq;
Collonel Cornwall, Junior.
James Cockburne, Efq; George Clarke, Efq; of the Thomas Gary, Efq; James Craggs, Elq; Thomas Cor re, bfq;
John Churchill, Efq; Matter Carpenter to His Majeity.
D.
Duke of Devonjhire, Lord Steward of His
Majefty's Houfhold, P. C. Earl oiDorfet and Middle fex, Lord Warden
and Admiral of the Cinque Ports. Earl of Dundonald. Earl of 'Dartmouth. Lord Digby. Lord Vifcount Downe. Sir David Dalrymple, Baronet. Montague Drake, Efq; Thomas Duncombe, Efq; Gapt Nicholas Du Bots, Engineer. Mr Teter Du Noyer, Bookfeller.
E.
Richard Edgcombe, Efq;
F.
Lord Vifcount Fa Icon berg.
Lord Finch, Son and Heir to the Earl of
Nottingham. Sir Robert Furneze, Baronet. Thomas Frankland, Efq; Thomas Foley, fcfq; B. Fairfax, Efq;
G
Duke of Grafton, one of the Lords Juftices
of Ireland, P. C Earl of Godolphin, Cofferer to His Majefty. Lord Gower. Lord de Grey. Thomas Gage, Efq$ Francis Gwynne, Éfq; William Gore, EJqs William Green, Hiq; Mrs. Ifabella Girardau.
H.
Dutchefs of Hamilton and Brandon.
Late Earl of Ha Hi fax.
Prefent Earl of Hallifax.
Lord Harley, Son and Heir to the Earl of
Oxford. Sir Thomas Hanmer, Baronet. Thomas Harley, Efq-, Daniel Harvey, Efq; Lieutenant-General of
His Majefty's Forces. Thomas hewet, Efq;
b John
■■HH
■
/I List of the
John Hill, Efq;
Nicholas Hawk/more, Efq;
Richard Hill, Efq;
I.
Lord Irwin,
K.
Duke of ifrztf, Conftable of Wind/or Caftle, and one of the Lords of His Majefty's Bed- chamber, P.C.
Duke of Kingflon, P. C.
Corbet Kinajton, Efq;
L.
Earl of Lincoln, one of the Lords of His Ma- jefty's Bed-chamber.
Lord Vifcount Longueville.
Lord Vifcount Lonfdale.
Lord Bifhop of London, Dean of His Maje- fty's Chappel Royal, P. C.
Lord Lanfdowne.
Sir Willian Leman, Baronet.
Duke of Marlborough, Captain General of
all His Majefty's forces, P. C. Duke of Montague, Captain of the Firfl Troop
of His Majeily's Horfe Guards. Earl of Marr. Earl of Manchefter. Earl of Montrath. Sir Roger Moflyn, Baronet. Honourable Thomas Maynard, Efq; John Mole/worth, Efq; J. Montgomery, Efq;
Duke of Norfolk, Hereditary Earl Marflial
of England. Duke of Newcaftle. Lord North and Gray. Lord Newborough, Captain of the Third
Troop of His Majefty's Horfe Guards. Sir Edward Northey, Knight, His Majefty's
Attorney-General. Edward Nicholas, Efq;
Duke of Ormond.
Earl of Orkney, Lieut. General of His Ma- jefty's Forces.
Earl of Orrery, one of the Lords of His Ma- jefty's Bed-chamber.
Earl of Oxford.
Sir John Offley, Baronet.
Duke of Towis.
Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, P. C.
Earl of Peterborough and Monmouth.
Earl of "Portland.
Earl Poulet.
Earl of Portmore.
Countefs of Pickenburgh.
Lord Paget, Son and Heir to the Earl of Vx-
bridge. Lord Percival. William Pulteney, Efq;
Subscribers.
Thomas Pitt, Junior Efq;
R.
Duke of Richmond and Lenox, one of the Lords of His Majefty s Bed-chamber.
Duke of Roxburgh, P. C.
Earl of Radnor, Treafurer of his Majefty's Chamber.
Earl of Rochefler.
Lord Bifh »p of Rochefler.
Sir John Rujhout, Baronet.
Signior Sebaftiano Ricci.
Signior Marco Ricci.
S.
Duke of Somerfet Matter ôf the Horfe to the
King's Majefty, P. C. Duke of Shrewsbury, P. C. Earl of Sunderland, Lord Privy Seal, P. C. Earl of Scarfdale. Earl of Stair. Earl of Strafford. Lord Vifcount Sondes, eldeft Son of the Earl
of Rockingham. Lord Somers, P. C. Lord Shelburne. Right Honourable James Stanhope, Efq; one
of His Majefty's principal Secretaries of
State, P.C. Sir Richard Steele. J. G. Steigcrtahl, Efq; Phyfician to His
Majefty. Signior Nicola SantinL
T.
Earl of Tankerville.
Earl of Thomond.
Lord Vifcount Townjhend, one of His Maje-
fty's principal Secretaries of State, P. C. Sir George Thorold, Knight and Baronet. John Tirrel, Efq; John Ivory Talbot, Efq; John Toland, M. A.
U.
Earl ?,f- ^hrid^ Captain of the Yeomen
of His Majefty's Guard, P. C. Sir John Vanbrugh, Knight, Clarenceux King
of Arms, and Comptroller of His Maieftv's
Works. J J
W.
)J< Marquis of Wharton.
Marquis of Winchefter, Son and Heir to the
Duke of Bolton. Lord Waldegrave. Honourable John Wefl, Efq; Son and Heir
to the Lord <De la War. Sir William Windham, Baronet Sir Chriflopher Wren, Knight, Surveyor-Ge-
neral of His Majefty's Works. Captain William Wynde.
Y.
Lord Archbiihop of Tork, P. C.
Z.
Signior G. Giacomo Zamboni.
I
NVRE A PALLADIO (one of the moft Learned Architects that Italy has produc 'd, fince the polite Arts begun to revive there; was born in Viccn&a, a Town belonging to the Republick of Venice. His Parents were of mean Extraction, but in Consideration of his great Abilites, and as a reward for the honour he did his Native City, he was made free of the fame, and receiv d into the Body of the No- bility. He had for his Mafter the Celebrated Giovanni Giorgio Triflino, under whom he not only learnt the moft curious parts of Civil and Military AnhiteSure, but likewife adornd his Mind with all forts of Erudition. He made it his chief Study to fearch into the ftately Monuments of old Rome, which he examin'd with unparalleled Diligence and Attention. His Poft- humous Work of the Roman- Antiquities, tho imperfeft, does yet fufficiently Ihow how much he made himfelf Mafter of the No- bleft Ideas of the Ancients: for walking through the rubbiih and other remains of thefe, he difcovef d the true Rules of an Art, which till his time, were unknown 5 even to Mtchel-Angelo and Brunellefihi his Contemporaries. The Exa&nefs of his de- figns cant be too much commended: tis pity that the Au- thors, who have made mention of him, are filent on the parti- culars of his Life. They have taken great pains in giving us along lift of the fine Buildings wherewith he adornd his Coun- try, but to little purpofe 5 fince We have them drawn and ex- plain'd by himfelf, in the fécond and third Books of his Archi- tecture. He flouriffrd in the 16th Century, and dy'd in the Year 1 S 80.
T HE
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THE
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
<N E of the mort: judicious Remarks that have been made upon the Variety of Opinions, which prevail among thole Authors, who have written concerning Architecture, and given us the proportions of its Orders, is in my; judgment, that of Movj le Clerc in a new Treatife lately publiih'd by him on that Subject. If the orders of Columns (fays he *) had real and undifputable beauties, the Archi- tects, both Ancient and Modern, 'would have agreed among themf elves about their rules and proportions : but thofe beauties, being only arbi- trary, as not being grounded upon demonflrations, the Authors, 'who have treated of them, have given us different rules, according to their Tafte and Genius. And indeed, (6 great is this Variety, that it may be perceiv'd, even in thofe ftately remains of ancient Build- ings, which arc recommended to us, to this very day, by the greateft Mailers, as fo many Models. However, if it be true, as Monf le Clerc adds, that among thofe fever al beauties, Jome are certainly more pleafing and more univerfally apfrovd -, till lomebody ig fo happy, as to be able to demonflrate that fuch, or fuch a rule, or proportion, ou^ht to be preferr'd to another, no reafonable Man will fcruple to follow thofe great and no- ble Ideas, thofe magnificent Ordinances, thofe learned and judicious Obfèrvations, thofè jufl and exacï proportions which the mofl famous Architects have left us, and which have gain'd a general applaufe. Among thofe great Matters of Civil Ar- chitecture, Palladio, whofe Work 1 have undertaken to translate, is doubtlefs the mofl eminent, if therefore the Book of that Learned Man has been admir'd all over Europe, tho his Defigns have only been courfly engrav'd mWooden Cuts j will any one deny that the generous Foreigner, who has fpent fevcral years in preparing the Defigns, from which the following Cuts have been engrav'd, makes a very confiderable Prefent to the Publick ? No body was certainly better qualified than he, to beftow upon the Defigns of Palladio that gracefulnefs and fhength, which can only be imitated by the Graver, with a perfection unknown to the Artifts of the XVIth Century. For befldes that he is a very good Architect, and has in a particular manner applied himfelf to the reading of Palladio, and fludied his method more carefully than that of any other Author -, he has alfo feen mofl of the Originals of thofe Defigns that are in the fécond , third, and fourth Books of this Work j that is, the Houfes, Palaces, Churches, and other Build- ings, both publick and private, raifed by Palladio himfelf, or defigned by him, as bein<* built by other Architects for whom he had an Efleem : and as he's an Excellent Defigner, Ço he has taken Care to add to all thofèoriginalD*/5g«/many Ornaments, which could not appear in WoodenCuts. It would have been no eafy thing for him to do this with exa&nefs, had he not feen thofe Edifices, and made the necefTary Obfèrvations for that end. Befldes, that feveral faults had crept into the Italian Edition ; which could not have been fo well mended by another hand. Thus the Reader may fee how much the Publick is indebted to Mr. Leoni.
As for what concerns my own Performance, I was very well pleas'd to find an Op- portunity of tranflating an Author whom I always admir'd : being of Opinion that an intent reading of the two Tranflations publifhed in this Volume, would very much con- tribute to fix in my mind the Rules of an Art which has always been my mofl delight- ful Study. I was flill the more willing to undertake that painful Task, becaufe I had al- ready
cthe Tranjlatofs Preface.
ready obferv'd that Monfieur de Chambrays * Tranflation, tho pretty exact, began to •Afcul grow obfolete, and that befides many ungraceful expreflions ( as being now out of ufe ) ?$; *!/«/'* there are feveral terms of Art, which have been alter'd with the Language, and which requir'd a greater accuracy. 1 fhall fay nothing of the Verfion made by MonJ. le Muet, who only tranflated the f firft Book. One may very well wonder that.fo Learned an + /»i68o. Architect (hould have fo little regard to the Reputation of his Author, as to lend him reJrtZuiat his own Notions, by inferting ( as he has done in many places ) feveral rules and pro- » i68x. 4*^ portions, which he lik'd, inftcad of thofe of his original , under pretence, as he him- felf (ays, * that the meafurcs and proportions of Palladio are different from thofe that * Pag>™, are ufed f in France. Befides, that Tranflation is fo imperfect, and the References from dam Edit: the text to the Cuts are fo confuted and inaccurate, that thofe who begin to learn Ar- l68i' chitecture (for whom that Book feems chiefly to have been written) cannot read it leMuc?1* with any advantage. I fhall pafsover in filence another French Tranflation made (ac- Z^melfnrei cording to Moreri ) by one Roland Friart. I never could light on that Verfion -, and **d fgff»' therefore I can't judge of it: but it mud needs be written in very old French, fmce plllZiy'be it was Printed long before that of Monf. de Chambrai. However it be, what 1 havefaid d^^imm of the Tranflation of the firft Book of Palladio by Monf. le Muet, may very well be * France apply'd to a like Tranflation in Englijh. The Author of which, who, in all probabi- 5!*W; '° hty did not underftand the Italian Tongue, does altogether depend upon Monf. le ^ÎÏ/pZ- Muèt, and follows him fo clofely, that he has only tranflated the firft Book, as Monf. ladioW**» le Muet did, and even tranfcnb'd the mod palpable faults of the French Tranflator. fafimà Befides, in his imitation, he has added fo many things of his own, and fo much al- {jjff^L. ter'd the work of Palladio, that the latter is hardly to be known. Nevertheleft, fuch as in any •-* has always been the Reputation of this great Man, that this laft Tranflation of the \hl&ZÏÏÎ molt material part of his book, though never fo imperfect, or rather unworthy of him, has been reprinted fix or (even times. *. EéSHemm
Every one may reft fatisfy'd that the two new Tranflations publiftïd in this Volume, 0****1700, and join'd to the Italian Original, arc very faithful, and that 1 have left nothing un- attempted to make them as perfect as could be wifh'd, and anfwerable to the Beauty of the Cuts, with which they arc attended, and which have been engrav'd by the belt Ma- tters. But I leave this to the judgment of the Publick. All good Judges muft needs own that we wanted a Work of this Nature -, and there is no doubt, but it will prove very ufeful, as much to Architects and Workmen, as to thofe who defign to tuild for them- felvesj fince it contains thenecelTary Rules for raifing the plained: Buildings, as well as the moft adorn'd. Every body cannot build Palaces, nor enrich their Houfes with Co- lumns, Pilafters, and fo many other Ornaments of Architecture, which require great charges. But fince there are no Houfes, tho never fo fmall, without doors and win- dows, and fome of the other parts, firft invented by neceflity, and then adorn'd that they might be more graceful, it is not more chargeable to make them according to their juft proportions, by following the directions of fome intelligent Perfon, than to leave them to the management and difcretion of the workmen, who generally mind nothing but what is profitable to them. But as moft of thofe who undertake to build, neglect to make ufe of any Architect, in order to raife a Houfe, in which they will have none of thofe Ornaments, as being, in their judgment, either needlcfs, or too expenfive $ they alfo neglect the other parts, which are the moft material in a building. And be- caufc they dont underftand the Rules of an Art, that affords thofe beautiful proportions, which, even in the plaineft buildings, do often raife the admiration of the moft unskil- ful, without their knowing the reafon of it -, they look upon them as inconfiderablc things, and frequently prefer their own fancies to the judgment of the moft learned and experienced Architects : or, at moft, they rely upon Workmen, who are often very ig- norant, or dare not find fault with any plan, tho never fo bad, for fear of difplca- fing, and folofing their Work. Hence it is that we fee fo many bungled Houfes and fo oddly contriv'd, that they feem to have been made only to be admir'd by ignorant
10 are fenfible of fuch imperfections.
Men, and to raife the laughter of thofe
imper
The TranJIator'f Preface.
bf them are like Bird-cages, by reafon of the largenefs and too great number of win- dows $ or like prifons, bcxaufe of the Darknefs of the rooms, parages and flairs. Some want the molt effential part, I mean the Entablature, or Cornice , and tho it be the bell: fence againlt the injuries of the Weather, it is left out to fave charges. Jn fome other Houles,, the rooms are fo fmall and (trait, that one knows not where to place the moft necefTary furniture. Others, through the oddnefs of fome new and infignificant ornaments, feem to exceed the wildejl Gothick. It were an endlefs thing to enumerate all the abfurdities, which many of our Builders introduce every day into their way of building. I fhall be contented to apply to them what the ingenious Mr. Campbell fàys * An ft* of the Architecture of Boronimi *, in his Vitrwvim Britannicus, the firft part whereof
\îa*rthïl*fi he has newly publifhed with a labour and exactnefs equal to his skill in Architecture.
Century. jfay aYe^ favs ne^ chimerical beauties, where the Parts are without proportions, folids without their true bearing, heaps of materials without Jlrength, exceffiw ornaments with- out grace. I add, and a ridiculous mixture of Gothick and Roman, without Judgment, Taile, or Symmetry.
I confefs that the imperfections obfèrvable in our buildings, arc often to be afcrib'd to the Caprice and Infatuation of thofe for whom they are made : but I think it cannot be denied that they do alfo proceed, in a great meafure, from the ignorance and ill tafte of the Defigners, Undertakers, or Builders. Neverthelefs, we have good reafon to hope, more than ever, that thofe abfurdities will be laid afide, and that the noble and majefiick flmplicity of the Ancients will prevail again. Many Perfons, even a- mong the moil: illuftrious Nobility, begin to relifh Architecture. They take delight in learning its moil beautiful proportions y- and by comparing the buildings of eminent •and experiene'd Architects with thofê that have been rais'd by unskilful Men, they ea- fily perceive what a vaft difference there is between the noble productions of the for- mer, and the extravagant performances of the latter. And indeed, they are moft con- cerned in it : there is hardly any body elfe that can bear the Charges of a beautiful and perfect Architecture, and undertake thofè great and ftately buildings, wherein the Work and the Matter fèem to contend about the preference, and ftrive to immortalize the memory of their Matters. Tis therefore very proper for them to be able to judge of the Plans that are propos'd to them.
I hope this Work will meet with a general approbation : if thofe, who have no skill in Architecture, read it, their curiofity will perhaps move them to learn an Art, which feveral great Princes did not think unworthy of their application. Thofe who begin to ftudy Architecture, and whofe tafie is not come yet to its perfection, will be cur'd of their wrong notions j and finding in this Work a method no lefs experiene'd than beau- tiful and fare, they will learn by it to work with goodfuccefs, and without any fear of be- ing miftaken. As for thofe Learned Architects, who are better known by the reputa- tion of their works, than by any thing 1 could lay of them, tis not doubted but they will be glad to fèe Palladio come out under a form more fuitable to the noblenefs of his Defigns, and the great Efteem the Publick has always had for him.
Nicholas Du Bois, Architect,
and one of his Majefiys Engineers*
ii,
ADVERTISE M E NT.
The Notes and Obfervations made by Inigo Jones upon PalladioV Book of Architecture, having a Reference to feveral Pages and Plates of this Edition not yet Printed^ it was judgd neceffary to fubjoin them all together apart to the end of the loft Book, with a larger Index of the Contents of the whole.
THE
THE
PREFACE
TO T HE
READER.
>Y Natural Inclination leading me, from my very In- fancy, to the Study of Architecture, I refolv'd to apply my felf to it: And becaufe I ever was of Opinion, that the ancient Romans did far excel all that have come after them, as in many other things fo particu- larly in Building, I propofed to my felf VUnmius both as my Mafter and Guide, he being the only ancient Author that re- maps extant on this Subjed. Then, I betook my felf to the Search Td Examination of fuch Ruins of ancient Strutoes as, in fpSht of Tme and the rude Hands of BMm,, ^Vn^," ine and finding that they deferved a much more diligent Obfer- Sn than I thought at firft Sight, I began with the utmoft Accuracy to meafure every the minuteft part by it felf: And indeed, I became foSmpXus an Examiner of them (not difcovering that any thing oftmsS "was performd, without the jufteft Reafon and the fineft °J> opoS tLÏ afterwards, not once only, ^^f^htt Tournies to feveral parts of My, and even out of it, that I m ght be KZ from fuch Fragments, to comprehend what the whole mull ne ds h£ been, aX make Draughts accordingly. Whereupon, crnfiderins; how widely different the way of Building, common y m uffiS thrObfemtions I made on the faid Edifices, and from what I We read in r*m*m> in Leo Bap»p Alberti, and other excel- taWrte <£ce Fitrwviuis Time, as wellas from Builchngsof my own lentwnierbiuicY rc -nutation and cave no fmall Satif-
Performance, which railed my Reputation, anagav _ faction to thofe who were pleafed to employ me, I thought itan Un
B
r I
,!
PREFACE.
dertaking worthy of a Man who confiders that he was not born for himfelf only, but likewife for the Good of others, to publifllto the World the Defigns (or Draughts) of thofe Edifices, which with e- qual Expence of Time and Danger of my Perfon, I have collected? (j\f and briefly to fet down what feem'd to me moft worthy to be confi- derd in them j and further, to give thofe Rules which I have hither- to follow'd in Building, and which I ftill follow, to the end that they who (hall read my Books, may be able to pradtife whatever they find ufeful in them, and to fupply what is wanting, as many fuch things there may be. Thus Men, by degrees, will learn to lay afide the ftrange Abufes, the barbarous Inventions, the fuperfluous Ex- penses, and (what imports 'em more than all the reft) to avoid the various and continual Ruins which have happened in feveral Build- ings. I have moreover apply 'd my felf to this Undertaking with the greater Alacrity, becaufe at this time I fee abundance of others be- come ftudious of this Profeffion, many of whom are worthily and honourably mentioned in the Books of that rare Painter and Archi- tect GeorgeVafari Amino, which makes me hope that the way of Building will be reduced to general Utility, and very foon arrive to that pitch of Perfection, which, in all Arts, is fo much defired. We appear to come very near it, in this part of Italy, feeing that not only in Venice (where all the Polite Arts do flourifti, and which City alone affords an Example of the Grandeur and Magnificence of the Romans) there begin to appear Fabricks of good Tafte, fince that moft celebrated Carver and Architect, Giacomo Sanfivino, firft introduced the true man- ner, as may be feen, not to mention his fine Performances in the new Palace of Procuracy-, which is perhaps the moft fumptuous and the moft beautiful Edifice that has been erected fince the time of the An- cients? but alfo in feveral other Places of lefs renown, and particu- larly in the City of Vicenz.a, which tho' of no great Extent, yet is full of very refined Genius's, and fufficiently abounds in Riches. There I had firft occafion to put that in practice which I now publifb for the common Good. As here may be feen divers fine Edifices and many Gentlemen who are moft ftudious of this Art, and who whe- ther their Blood, or their Learning be confider'd, are not unworthy to be number'd among the moft Illuftrious, fuch as John George TriJEno the Ornament of our Age ; the Counts Marc Antony and Adriande Ihieni Brothers ; Antenor Pagello, and many others, who having paft to another Life, have eternifed their Memory by the curious and rich Buildings they have left behind them. There are now living in the fame City Fabio Monzji, a knowing Perfon in many Subjects; Elio de Belli, the Son o£Valeriot famous for Painting in Brooch * and Cutting of Criftal;
* PiSures in eut Ctlour are fo caWd.
Antony
PREFACE.
Antom Francis Obviera, who befides the Knowledge of many Sciences, is an excellent Architect and Poet, as he has demonftrated in his He- roick Poem, Entitled Alemana, and by the Houfe that he built at Bofchidi NantOy a place of the Vicentin j and finally, to pafs over feve- ral others that might reafonably lay a claim to the fame Rank, Valeria Barbarano, a moft diligent Obferver of whatever any ways belongs to our Profeflion. But to return to our Subject, having defigned to publifh to the World the Fruits of thofe Labours, which, with the greateft Diligence from my Youth upwards, I have been collecting; as alfothe Searching and Meafuring of thofe Ancient Buildings that any ways came to my Knowledge; and upon this occafion briefly to treat of Architecture in the moft orderly and diftinct method poffi- ble, I thought it moft convenient to begin with the Houfes of pri- vate Perfons, as thinking it reafonable to believe, that thefe intime gave rife to publick Edifices, it being very probable that Men lived firftafunderbythemfelves; and perceiving afterwards that they needed the Aid of others to make them happy ( if indeed there be any Happi- nefs here) they naturally loved and defired the Company of other Men , whence, out of many Houfes they made Villages, and out of many Villages Cities, in which they built Publick Places and Edifices. Befides, as of all the Parts of Architecture, none is more neceffary than this for Mankind, nor any more frequently pradtifed by them: I (hall therefore in the firft place treat of private Houfes, and next of publick Edifices. I fhall briefly write of Streets, Bridges, publick Places, Prifons, Bafiliche, or Courts of Juftice: Xifti and Taleftre (which were Places defign'd for bodily ExercifesJ of Temples, Theatres and Amphitheaters, of Arches, of publick Baths, of Aque- ducts, and laft of all, the manner of fortifying Cities and Havens. In all thefe I (hall avoid fuperfluity of Words, and will barely remark fuch things as (hall appear to me moft neceffary, ufing thofe Terms and Names that are in common ufe with our prefent Architects. And becaufe I dare make no other boafts of my felf than what flow meerly from the long and earneft Study, great Diligence, ftrong Paflion and Affection wherewith I have purfued the Knowledge and Practice of what I now offer to the World; if it pleafes God that I have not laboured in vain, I lhall be thankful to his Goodnefs for it with all my Heart ; acknowledging my felf obliged to thofe, who, from their fine Inventions and Experiments, have left us the Precepts of this Art; fince thereby they have opened a more eafie and expe- ditious way to the making of new Difcoveries, and that by their means (which we ought thankfully to acknowledge) we are come to the Knowledge of many things, which otherwife had perhaps remain'd
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li
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PREFACE.
ftill unknown. This firft. Part (hall be divided into two Books,- the firft will contain the Preparation of the Materials, and being prepared, how, and in what form, to employ them from the Foundations up to the Roof 5 and here likewife will be contained thofe general Rules which are to be obferved in all Edifices, as well publick as private. In the fécond I (hall treat of the different Qualities of Buildings, foas to make them agreeable to Perfons of different Conditions: Firft of Houfes in the City, and next of the moft convenient Situations; for Country-houfes, and how they ought to be moft commodioufly difpofed. But fince in this Kind, we have but very few ancient O- riginals, by which to be governed, I (hall lay before you the Plans of feveral Houfes I have built for Gentlemen in divers places; and laftly, the Ancients Defigns of Country-houfes, with thofe parts in them that were moft remarkable, in the manner that Vitruvius has taught us, and that they themfelves Built them.
1
CHAP.
CO
THE
FIRST BOOK.
CHAR I.
Of Things to be confiderd and provided, before one be*
gins to Build*
jHE firft thing that requires our confideration, when we are about Building, is the Plan and the Upright of the Edifice we propofe to erect. Three things, according to Vitruvius, are chiefly to be confider'd, without which a Building cannot be of any value. Thefe are Convenience Solidity, and Beauty. For no Edifice can be allow'd to be perfect, if it be commodious and not durable ; or, if being durable, it be fub- ject to many inconveniencies $ or, if having both folidity and conveniency, it has no beauty nor uniformity.
An Edifice may be reckon'd Commodious, when every part of it has its proper place and fituation, in refpect to its dig- nity and ufes; having neither more nor lefs than thefe require: as when the Halls, Rooms, Clofets, Galleries, Cellars, Gar- rets, fere, are fitly difpos'd, and in their proper places. The So- lidity of an Edifice depends upon the care of erecting the Walls very plum, and thicker below than above, with good and ft out Foundations: taking care that the pillars above be exactly per- pendicular over the pillars below, and that all the openings, as Doors and Windows, be one above the other, fo that the folid be upon the folid» and the void upon the void. As for the beauty of an Edifice, it confifts in an exact Proportion of the parts within themfelves, and of each part with the whole ; for a fine Building ought to appear as an entire and perfect body, wherein every member agrees with its fellow, and each fo well with the whole, that it may feem abfolutely neceffary to the be- ing of the fame.
Thefe things confider'd upon the Draught, or Model, the Charges of the whole are to be diligently computed, and all re-
C quifite
u l
IL ■HHHHH
WÊÊSÊmm
i
uC.
I
quifite materials timely provided, that nothing be deficient, or hinder the finifhing of the work; it being no little fatisfa&ion and praife to the Builder, nor a fmall advantage to the work it felf, if it is compleated with due expédition, and in all its parts together : becaufe, if all the Walls are rais'd at the fame time, they will fettle equally every where, and there will be none of thofe Chinks or Clefts, which are fo common in the buildings finifh'd at fe veral times, Therefore having made choice of the moft skil- ful Artifts that can be had (to the end, that, by their advice, the Work may be better carried on) Bricks, Stones, Lime, Sand, Timber, and Metals, are to be provided in a fufficient quantity,- concerning which provifion, I intend to lay down fome very ufeful Obfervations : as for example 5 for framing the Floors of the Halls and Chambers, fo many Joyfts are to be provided for, as when fram'd, there may remain between them the fpace of a Joyft and a half. Likewife concerning Stones, notice ought to be taken, that the Jambs of the Doors and Windows are not to be bigger than a fifth, and not lefs than a fixth part of the opening. And if the building is to be inriched with Columns, or Pilajlers, the Bafes, Capitels, and Entablature, may be made of Stone, and the reft of Bricks. As for the Walls, they ought to diminifll according as they rife. Thefe Confederations rightly apply'd, will help to leflen the Expences of the Work. But becaufe I am to difcourfe about all thefe things in particular, 'twill be fufficient to have given here this general hint as a rough draught of the whole Building. And as the quality and good- nefs of the materials, are as much to be inquir'd into, as the quantity of them, the experience of thofe who have built be. fore, will be a great help to determine what is fit and expedient to be done. And tho' Vitrwvius, Leo Baptijla Alberts, and other excellent Mafters, have given us their opinions of the choice of Materials j yet that nothing be wanting in this Book, I fhall fubjoin my own Obfervations to the moft neceffary of theirs.
CHAR IL Of Timber.
Timber, according to Vitrwvius (Book 2. Chap. 9 J ought to be cut down in autumn, and during the winter; be- caufe the Strength, which, in the fpring and fummer, was
difpers'd
»
[3] difpers'd through the leaves and fruits of the trees, is then gather'd into the trunk and boughs : and if it is fell'd in the wane of the Moon, then it is free from a certain moifture which is apt to breed worms, and to rot the wood. Timber fhould be cut at firft only to the pith, and fo left until it be dry, that the rotting moifture we have fpoken of, may the eafier drop down and pafs away. Being cut; it muft be laid under fhelter from Sun and Rain, chiefly that fort of wood which grows of it felf, that is, without being fow'd or planted, for fear it fhould chop : and in order to make it grow dry equally, it will be very proper to daub it over with Cow-dung. It fhould not be drawn home through the Dew, but rather in the after* noon; neither ought it to be wrought, if it is wet or too dry, becaufe it would make it warp and occafion clumfy work: nor will it in lefs than three Years be dry enough to ufe it in Planks, Doors, and Window Frames. Tis expedient for thofe who un, dertake a building, if they want skill in this, to inform them* felves from men who are throughly acquainted with the nature of Timber, that they may judge which is fit for fuch or fuch ufes, and which not. Vitmvius^ in the above quoted Chapter* gives good inftru&ions on that head \ befides many more, who have written at large on the fame Subjeft.
CHAP. Ill
Of Stones*
THERE are two forts of Stones, natural and artificial. The Natural are dug out of the Quarry, and either fit to make Lime (of which we (hall fpeak more at large hereafter) or to be employ 'd in making the Walls of Buildings 5 and of thefe laft there are feveral forts. Some extreamly hard, as Mar- ble, and fuch other living Stones, as they are call'd: fomelefs hard, as Free-ftone: others foft, as Chalk. Marble and Free- ftone may be wrought as foon as dug, fot they will be then more eafie to work, fince the longer they are out of the Quarry they become the harder. But as to fofter Stone, it ought to be dug in fummer, be expos'dto the Air, and not to beufed with- in two Years 5 efpecially when the nature of the Stone is not well known, as when tis dug in a place from whence none has been yet taken: for being expos'd to Wind, Rain, andFroft, makes
it
[4] it grow hard by degrees, and more capable to bear the Weather. Another reafon why it ftlould be left fo long is, that thofe which are damag'd may be laid afide, to beufed in Foundations, and other places not expos'd to fight 5 and that the others which are well feafon'd may be employed in the outfide work, becaufe then we may be fure, that after fuch a trial, they will laft long.
Artificial Stones, which from their form are commonly call'd guadrels, alias Bricks, are made of a chalky, whitiftl, and foft Earth, without any mixture of Clay or Sand, which is to be carefully feparated. The Earth is to be dug in autumn, and temper'd in winter, that the Bricks may be moulded in the fpring : but if necefïity forces to make them in winter or fummer, they muft be cover d in winter with dry Sand, and in fummer with Straw. When made, they require a long