Vitruvius and his Historical Relevance

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the first and most influential treatise on architecture, Vitruvius's "Ten Books on Architecture." First the content is considered, including Vitruvius's account of architecture as the mother of all arts followed by his outline of the ideal education for architects and his theory of architecture. It also discusses the transmission and reception of Vitruvius in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Particular attention is paid to Alberti and his reaction to Vitruvius in his own "Ten Books" on architecture. Finally, the historical significance of Vitruvius's treatise is examined-both from the point of view of today and of when the treatise was composed.

From the Paper:

"In the first chapter of Book II, Vitruvius gives his account of architecture, or rather, the story of civilization as the history of architecture. His synopsis is certainly simplistic, and at times humourously so, but on the whole it accords with common sense. To his mind, architecture, born of necessity, is mother to all the arts, and though he is not as explicit on this issue as later writers would be, he clearly holds the field in the highest regard. He sets out his ambitious "Education of the Architect" in the first chapter of the treatise, and explains the necessity of each branch of study-drawing, geometry, history, philosophy, music, medicine, law, astronomy. The application to any of these fields to architecture is obvious enough, but Vitruvius defends the others. History, for example, is useful in understanding the origin of particular styles. He uses the famous example of caryatides and the Persian porch."

More papers on Vitruvius and his Historical Relevance:

• Book Review # 112401 : "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank and its Historical Relevance"
• Analytical Essay # 141367 : "The Hiding Place" and the Historical Perspective of WWII"
• Term Paper # 150157 : "Saddam Hussein and his Regime"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: