Vitruvius Human Scale Influences Generations
2012
Architectural History 1 – Essay 1 Ben Pringle
[Vitruvius Human Scale Influences Generations]
1
Vitruvius Human Scale Influences Generations
The classical antiquity period was a host to mythology, arts and influential rulers of the era. The first and most well documented treatise analysis of architecture in the 1st Century was De Architectura. Vitruvius, author and military architect, dedicated to his commander Augustus Caesar these 10 volumes encompassing a corpus relating to aspects of Greek and Roman architecture (McEwen. 2003). From analysing Book IV, Chapter 1this essay makes a clear correlation in terms of how Vitruvius presented these mythological origins of the Greek and Roman orders. It will show how Vitruvius‟s account of the orders was influential in understanding Greek Architecture and finally how De Architectura influenced the styles, buildings and architects of Italian Renaissance period. In this essay it will be argued that he had a profound influence on architects of the Italian renaissance and his symbolism of human form and scale was defining factor in understanding Greek architecture and mythology. These three orders, discussed by Vitruvius, benchmarked architecture from classical antiquity to the present. ‘The Origins of the Three Orders and the Proportion of the Corinthian Capital’ is a broad overview of the 3 categories of columns, which are segregated by size, form and mythological symbols, relating to human form. The chapter examines the Doric, Iconic and Corinthian with firstly the origins and basic mapping of where the names originated. Basic dimensioning of the orders is explained in terms of measurements, which pertain to human form. According to the mythology of each order, their relationships are linked to characteristics symbolising human form. When constructing the temple of Apollo Panionios, a proportional system of measurement needed to be used for structural integrity (Vitruvius. 2009). Similarities and symbolic
Architectural History 1 – Essay 1 Ben Pringle
[Vitruvius Human Scale Influences Generations]
1
Vitruvius Human Scale Influences Generations
The classical antiquity period was a host to mythology, arts and influential rulers of the era. The first and most well documented treatise analysis of architecture in the 1st Century was De Architectura. Vitruvius, author and military architect, dedicated to his commander Augustus Caesar these 10 volumes encompassing a corpus relating to aspects of Greek and Roman architecture (McEwen. 2003). From analysing Book IV, Chapter 1this essay makes a clear correlation in terms of how Vitruvius presented these mythological origins of the Greek and Roman orders. It will show how Vitruvius‟s account of the orders was influential in understanding Greek Architecture and finally how De Architectura influenced the styles, buildings and architects of Italian Renaissance period. In this essay it will be argued that he had a profound influence on architects of the Italian renaissance and his symbolism of human form and scale was defining factor in understanding Greek architecture and mythology. These three orders, discussed by Vitruvius, benchmarked architecture from classical antiquity to the present. ‘The Origins of the Three Orders and the Proportion of the Corinthian Capital’ is a broad overview of the 3 categories of columns, which are segregated by size, form and mythological symbols, relating to human form. The chapter examines the Doric, Iconic and Corinthian with firstly the origins and basic mapping of where the names originated. Basic dimensioning of the orders is explained in terms of measurements, which pertain to human form. According to the mythology of each order, their relationships are linked to characteristics symbolising human form. When constructing the temple of Apollo Panionios, a proportional system of measurement needed to be used for structural integrity (Vitruvius. 2009). Similarities and symbolic
References: AnonA, 2012, San Andrea Church, viewed 25/03/2012 AnonB Chitham. R , 1985, Classical Orders of Architecture, Architectural Press Ltd, London. Kruft, H. W, 1994, A history of architectural theory: from Vitruvius to the present, Princeton Architectural Pr. New York. McEwen. I. K, 2003, Vitruvius : Writing the Body of Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Pr. Massachusetts. Palladio. A, 2007, “The Four Books of Architecture”, in Sykes. A. K (ed), The Architectural Reader: Essential writings from Vitruvius to the present, George Braziller, Inc. New York. pp 64. Vitruvius. M, 2009, „The Origins of the Three Orders, and the Proportion of the Corinthian Capital‟, in Schofield. R (trans.), Vitruvius On Architecture, Penguin Classics, London Classical Styles of Columns - Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian Architecture, n Anon. 2008 "Vitruvius Pollio." Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography, viewed 29/03/ 2012 < http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2830904942.html?> Harbourson Robertson. D. S, 1943, Greek and Roman architecture, second edition, Cambridge University Pr. London.