36[Figure 36]THE
ARCHITECTURE
OF
Leone Batiſta Alberti.
ARCHITECTURE
OF
Leone Batiſta Alberti.
BOOK VII. CHAP. I.
Of the ORNAMENTS of Sacred EDIFICES.
That the Walls of Cities, the Temples, and Courts of Juſtice, uſed to be con
ſecrated to the Gods; of the proper Region for the City, its Situation and
principal Ornaments.
ſecrated to the Gods; of the proper Region for the City, its Situation and
principal Ornaments.
We have already obſerved that all
Buildings conſiſt of ſeveral Parts,
and that of theſe Parts ſome are
thoſe wherein all Manner of Build
ings in general agree; ſuch as Si
tuation, Covering, and the like; and others,
thoſe wherein they differ. We have already
treated of the Ornaments which belong to the
former; we are now to ſpeak of thoſe which
are proper to the latter. And this Diſcourſe
will be of ſo uſeful a Nature, that even Painters,
thoſe moſt accurate Searchers after every Thing
that is beautiful, will confeſs, that they them
ſelves have abſolute Occaſion for it. As for
the Pleaſantneſs of it, I ſhall only ſay, that I be
lieve nobody will repent his having read it.
But I muſt now deſire not to be blamed, if,
having propoſed new Ends to myſelf, I begin
to handle my Subject upon freſh Principles.
The Principles and Steps to any Subject are
found by the Diviſion, Intent and Conſidera
tion of the Parts whereof that Subject conſiſts.
For as in a Statue made of Braſs, Gold and
Silver melted together, the Workman conſiders
the Parts with regard to their Weight, the
Statuary with regard to their Out-lines, and
others perhaps as to other Reſpects; ſo, as we
have obſerved before, the Parts of Architecture
ought to be divided in ſuch a Manner, that our
Conſiderations upon each of them may be as
clear and diſtinct as poſſible. We ſhall now
therefore proceed upon that Diviſion which
regards the Beauty and Ornament of Buildings,
more than either their Conveniency or Strength.
Though indeed all theſe Qualifications have
ſuch a mutual Agreement with one another,
that where any one of them is wanting, the
others alſo loſe their Commendation. All
Buildings therefore are either publick or pri
vate; and both publick and private, are either
ſacred or profane. We ſhall firſt treat of pub
lick Edifices. The Ancients uſed to found the
Walls of their Cities with the greateſt Religion,
dedicating them to ſome God who was to be
their Guardian: Nor did they think that it
was poſſible for the publick Weal to be ſo per
fectly ſecured by the Prudence of any Man
whatſoever, but that it might be endangered
Buildings conſiſt of ſeveral Parts,
and that of theſe Parts ſome are
thoſe wherein all Manner of Build
ings in general agree; ſuch as Si
tuation, Covering, and the like; and others,
thoſe wherein they differ. We have already
treated of the Ornaments which belong to the
former; we are now to ſpeak of thoſe which
are proper to the latter. And this Diſcourſe
will be of ſo uſeful a Nature, that even Painters,
thoſe moſt accurate Searchers after every Thing
that is beautiful, will confeſs, that they them
ſelves have abſolute Occaſion for it. As for
the Pleaſantneſs of it, I ſhall only ſay, that I be
lieve nobody will repent his having read it.
But I muſt now deſire not to be blamed, if,
having propoſed new Ends to myſelf, I begin
to handle my Subject upon freſh Principles.
The Principles and Steps to any Subject are
found by the Diviſion, Intent and Conſidera
tion of the Parts whereof that Subject conſiſts.
For as in a Statue made of Braſs, Gold and
Silver melted together, the Workman conſiders
the Parts with regard to their Weight, the
Statuary with regard to their Out-lines, and
others perhaps as to other Reſpects; ſo, as we
have obſerved before, the Parts of Architecture
ought to be divided in ſuch a Manner, that our
Conſiderations upon each of them may be as
clear and diſtinct as poſſible. We ſhall now
therefore proceed upon that Diviſion which
regards the Beauty and Ornament of Buildings,
more than either their Conveniency or Strength.
Though indeed all theſe Qualifications have
ſuch a mutual Agreement with one another,
that where any one of them is wanting, the
others alſo loſe their Commendation. All
Buildings therefore are either publick or pri
vate; and both publick and private, are either
ſacred or profane. We ſhall firſt treat of pub
lick Edifices. The Ancients uſed to found the
Walls of their Cities with the greateſt Religion,
dedicating them to ſome God who was to be
their Guardian: Nor did they think that it
was poſſible for the publick Weal to be ſo per
fectly ſecured by the Prudence of any Man
whatſoever, but that it might be endangered
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