89[Figure 89]THE
ARCHITECTURE
OF
Leone Batiſta Alberti.
ARCHITECTURE
OF
Leone Batiſta Alberti.
BOOK X. CHAP. I.
Of the Defects in Buildings, whence they proceed, and their different Sorts;
which of them can be corrected by the Architect, and which cannot; and the
various Cauſes of a bad Air.
which of them can be corrected by the Architect, and which cannot; and the
various Cauſes of a bad Air.
Since in the Remainder of this
Work we are to treat of the correct
ing the ſeveral Defects in Building,
it is neceſſary firſt to conſider what
thoſe Defects are which are capable of Emen
dation by the Hand of Man: As the Phyſici
ans think that the Knowledge of the Patient's
Diſtemper, is the greateſt Step towards his
Cure. Of the Defects in Buildings, as well
publick as private, ſome are innate and owing
to the Architect, and others proceed from fo
reign Cauſes: And again, of theſe ſome are
capable of being repaired by Art and Contri
vance, and others will not poſſibly admit of
any Remedy. What thoſe are which are owing
to the Architect, we have pointed out ſo plain
ly in the laſt Book, that a Repetition of them
here is not neceſſary, having there ſhewn that
ſome are the Errors of the Mind, ſome of the
Hand; that thoſe of the Mind are an injudici
ous Election, an inconvenient Compartition,
an improper Diſtribution, or confuſed Pro
portions; whereas thoſe of the Hand are an
inaccurate or inconſiderate Preparation, Col
lection, Working, and putting together the
Materials: Faults which the Negligent and
Unadviſed eaſily fall into. But the Defects
which proceed from foreign Cauſes are ſcarcely
to be numbered for their Multiplicity and Va
riety: Of which Cauſes the firſt is that which
is ſaid to overcome all Things, Time, whoſe
Violence is no leſs deceitful than it is power
ful, nor can any Sort of Bodies elude that great
Law of Nature, of Feeling the Decays of old
Age; inſomuch that ſome are of Opinion, the
very Heavens themſelves are corruptible only
for this Reaſon, becauſe they are Bodies. We
all know the Power of the Sun, of Damps, of
Froſts and of Storms. Battered by theſe En
gines, we ſee the hardeſt Flints ſhiver and fall
to Pieces, and huge Pieces of Rock broken
down from the Mountains, with Parts of the
Hill itſelf along with them. To theſe add the
Violence or Negligence of Men. I call Heaven
to Witneſs, that I am often filled with the
higheſt Indignation when I ſee Buildings de
moliſhed and going to Ruin by the Careleſs
neſs, not to ſay abominable Avarice of the
Owners, Buildings whoſe Majeſty has ſaved
them from the Fury of the moſt barbarous and
enraged Enemies, and which Time himſelf,
that perverſe and obſtinate Deſtroyer, ſeems to
have deſtined to Eternity. To theſe again add
the ſudden Accidents of Fire, Lightening,
Earthquakes, Inundations, and thoſe many ſur
prizing, unheard of and incredible Phænomena
which the miraculous Power of Nature ſo fre
quently produces, and which are capable of
Work we are to treat of the correct
ing the ſeveral Defects in Building,
it is neceſſary firſt to conſider what
thoſe Defects are which are capable of Emen
dation by the Hand of Man: As the Phyſici
ans think that the Knowledge of the Patient's
Diſtemper, is the greateſt Step towards his
Cure. Of the Defects in Buildings, as well
publick as private, ſome are innate and owing
to the Architect, and others proceed from fo
reign Cauſes: And again, of theſe ſome are
capable of being repaired by Art and Contri
vance, and others will not poſſibly admit of
any Remedy. What thoſe are which are owing
to the Architect, we have pointed out ſo plain
ly in the laſt Book, that a Repetition of them
here is not neceſſary, having there ſhewn that
ſome are the Errors of the Mind, ſome of the
Hand; that thoſe of the Mind are an injudici
ous Election, an inconvenient Compartition,
an improper Diſtribution, or confuſed Pro
portions; whereas thoſe of the Hand are an
inaccurate or inconſiderate Preparation, Col
lection, Working, and putting together the
Materials: Faults which the Negligent and
Unadviſed eaſily fall into. But the Defects
which proceed from foreign Cauſes are ſcarcely
to be numbered for their Multiplicity and Va
riety: Of which Cauſes the firſt is that which
is ſaid to overcome all Things, Time, whoſe
Violence is no leſs deceitful than it is power
ful, nor can any Sort of Bodies elude that great
Law of Nature, of Feeling the Decays of old
Age; inſomuch that ſome are of Opinion, the
very Heavens themſelves are corruptible only
for this Reaſon, becauſe they are Bodies. We
all know the Power of the Sun, of Damps, of
Froſts and of Storms. Battered by theſe En
gines, we ſee the hardeſt Flints ſhiver and fall
to Pieces, and huge Pieces of Rock broken
down from the Mountains, with Parts of the
Hill itſelf along with them. To theſe add the
Violence or Negligence of Men. I call Heaven
to Witneſs, that I am often filled with the
higheſt Indignation when I ſee Buildings de
moliſhed and going to Ruin by the Careleſs
neſs, not to ſay abominable Avarice of the
Owners, Buildings whoſe Majeſty has ſaved
them from the Fury of the moſt barbarous and
enraged Enemies, and which Time himſelf,
that perverſe and obſtinate Deſtroyer, ſeems to
have deſtined to Eternity. To theſe again add
the ſudden Accidents of Fire, Lightening,
Earthquakes, Inundations, and thoſe many ſur
prizing, unheard of and incredible Phænomena
which the miraculous Power of Nature ſo fre
quently produces, and which are capable of