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Original Articles

Early Renaissance Architectural Theory and Practice in Antonio Filarete's Trattato Di ArchitetturaFootnote

Pages 89-106 | Published online: 04 Mar 2015
 

Abstract

DISCUSSIONS of architectural theory in the fifteenth century usually begin and end with Leon Battista Alberti. His polished humanist Latin, the meticulous organization and scope of details, the sweep of architectural visions and aesthetic convictions of De re aedificatoria has excited and fascinated generations of scholars. Next to such exalted music, Antonio Filarete's attempt at architectural theorizing appears to be not only later and lesser, but rather grotesque, if occasionally amusing fiddling. Characteristic of its position within the Quattrocento spectrum is the fact that Antonio's Trattato di Architettura, written in the late 1450's and early 1460's, has yet to receive a definitive edition.1 However, while the De re aedificatoria tells us much about Alberti, it is a poor primer of architectural theory and practice as it actually existed in the Early Renaissance. That Alberti's own buildings have only a remote relationship to his stated theoretical views, is a symptom of this discrepancy.

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