60[Figure 60]THE
ARCHITECTURE
OF
Leone Batiſta Alberti.
ARCHITECTURE
OF
Leone Batiſta Alberti.
BOOK VIII. CHAP. I.
Of the Ornaments of the great Ways eitherwithin or without the City, and of
the proper Places for interring or burning the Bodies of the Dead.
the proper Places for interring or burning the Bodies of the Dead.
We have formerly obſerved, that the
Ornaments annexed to all Sorts of
Buildings make an eſſential Part of
Architecture, and it is manifeſt that
every Kind of Ornament is not proper for every
Kind of Structure. Thus we are to endeavour,
to the utmoſt of our Power, to make our ſacred
Works, eſpecially if they are of a publick Na
ture, as compleatly adorned as poſſible, as be
ing intended for the Honour of the Gods;
whereas profane Structures are deſigned en
tirely for Men. The meaner therefore ought
to yield to the more honourable; but yet they
too may be embelliſhed with ſuch Ornaments
as are ſuitable to them. In what Manner ſacred
Buildings of a publick Nature are to be adorn
ed, we have ſhewn in the laſt Book: We now
come to profane Structures, and to give an Ac
count what Ornaments are proper to each diſ
tinct Sort of them. And firſt I ſhall take No
tice, that all Ways are publick Works, as being
contrived for the Uſe of the Citizens, and the
Convenience of Strangers: But as there are
Travellers by Water as well as by Land, we
ſhall ſay ſomething of both. And here it will
be proper to call to Mind what has been ſaid
elſewhere, that of Ways ſome are properly
Highways, others in a Manner but private
ones; as alſo, that there muſt be a Difference
between the Ways within the City, and thoſe
in the Country. Highways in the Country re
ceive their greateſt Beauty from the Country
itſelf through which they lie, from its being
rich, well cultivated, full of Houſes and Villa
ges, affording delightful Proſpects, now of the
Sea, now of a fine Hill, now a River, now a
Spring, now a barren Spot and a Rock, now a
fine Plain, Wood, or Valley; nor will it be a
ſmall Addition to its Beauty, that it be not
ſteep, broken by Precipices, or deep with Dirt;
but clear, ſmooth, ſpacious and open on all
Sides: and what Pains were not the Ancients
at to obtain theſe Advantages? I ſhall not
waſte the Reader's Time to relate how they
paved their Highways for above an hundred
Miles round their Capital with extreme hard
Stones, raiſing ſolid Cauſeways under them
with huge Stones all the Way. The Appian
Way was paved from Rome quite to Brunduſium.
In many Places along their Highways we ſee
Rocks demoliſhed, Mountains levelled, Vallies
raiſed, Hills cut through, with incredible Ex
pence and miraculous Labour; Works of great
Uſe and Glory. Another great Embelliſhment
to a Highway, is its furniſhing Travellers with
frequent Occaſion of Diſcourſe, eſpecially upon
notable Subjects. A Friend or Companion that
is not ſparing of his Speech, ſays Laberius, up
on a Journey is as good as a Vehicle; and
there is no doubt but Diſcourſe takes of much
Ornaments annexed to all Sorts of
Buildings make an eſſential Part of
Architecture, and it is manifeſt that
every Kind of Ornament is not proper for every
Kind of Structure. Thus we are to endeavour,
to the utmoſt of our Power, to make our ſacred
Works, eſpecially if they are of a publick Na
ture, as compleatly adorned as poſſible, as be
ing intended for the Honour of the Gods;
whereas profane Structures are deſigned en
tirely for Men. The meaner therefore ought
to yield to the more honourable; but yet they
too may be embelliſhed with ſuch Ornaments
as are ſuitable to them. In what Manner ſacred
Buildings of a publick Nature are to be adorn
ed, we have ſhewn in the laſt Book: We now
come to profane Structures, and to give an Ac
count what Ornaments are proper to each diſ
tinct Sort of them. And firſt I ſhall take No
tice, that all Ways are publick Works, as being
contrived for the Uſe of the Citizens, and the
Convenience of Strangers: But as there are
Travellers by Water as well as by Land, we
ſhall ſay ſomething of both. And here it will
be proper to call to Mind what has been ſaid
elſewhere, that of Ways ſome are properly
Highways, others in a Manner but private
ones; as alſo, that there muſt be a Difference
between the Ways within the City, and thoſe
in the Country. Highways in the Country re
ceive their greateſt Beauty from the Country
itſelf through which they lie, from its being
rich, well cultivated, full of Houſes and Villa
ges, affording delightful Proſpects, now of the
Sea, now of a fine Hill, now a River, now a
Spring, now a barren Spot and a Rock, now a
fine Plain, Wood, or Valley; nor will it be a
ſmall Addition to its Beauty, that it be not
ſteep, broken by Precipices, or deep with Dirt;
but clear, ſmooth, ſpacious and open on all
Sides: and what Pains were not the Ancients
at to obtain theſe Advantages? I ſhall not
waſte the Reader's Time to relate how they
paved their Highways for above an hundred
Miles round their Capital with extreme hard
Stones, raiſing ſolid Cauſeways under them
with huge Stones all the Way. The Appian
Way was paved from Rome quite to Brunduſium.
In many Places along their Highways we ſee
Rocks demoliſhed, Mountains levelled, Vallies
raiſed, Hills cut through, with incredible Ex
pence and miraculous Labour; Works of great
Uſe and Glory. Another great Embelliſhment
to a Highway, is its furniſhing Travellers with
frequent Occaſion of Diſcourſe, eſpecially upon
notable Subjects. A Friend or Companion that
is not ſparing of his Speech, ſays Laberius, up
on a Journey is as good as a Vehicle; and
there is no doubt but Diſcourſe takes of much
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