Biography of marcus vitruvius pollio

De Architectura ("On Architecture")

Reportedly rediscovered in 1414 by the Florentine scholar Poggio Bracciolini (1380-1459) (though not published until 1486), this multi-volume treatise contains the basis of much of what we know about Roman technology, and is the only major surviving work on architecture from classical antiquity. Along with contemporary books like De Re Aedificatoria (1485), by Leon Battista Alberti (1404-72), it is said to have influenced a huge number of Renaissance architects, including Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446), Donato Bramante (1444-1514), Sebastiano Serlio (1475-1554) - architectural adviser to the Fontainebleau School in France - Michelangelo (1475-1564), Jacopo Sansovino (1486-1570), Giulio Romano (1499-1546), Vignola (1507-1573), and Andrea Palladio (1508-80), whose Venetian Renaissance architecture influenced the English architect Inigo Jones (1573-1652).

Furthermore, during the classicist phase of 17th century Baroque architecture and later during the 18th century era of Neoclassical architecture - inspired by the excavations at Pompeii and the classicism of Winckelmann (1717-68) - Vitruvius's treatise was the leading authority on ancient classical design.

De Architectura is divided into ten books on a wide variety of architectural subjects including structural design and city planning; the use of the Greek orders of architecture (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian), notably in temple construction; building materials; public baths and theatres; domestic houses; floors and stucco decoration; clocks and astronomy; and hydraulics. It covers most aspects of architectural science, although it focuses largely on Greek models. This focus on Hellenistic design was because Vitruvius had a low opinion of contemporary Roman architecture - a somewhat ironic position, since Roman architects were soon to make a radical shift from Greek ideas and construct some of the greatest public buildings, bridges, roads and other monumental structures which the world has ever seen. See also: Roman Art.

De Architectura includes Vitruvius's famous assertion that a well designed structure must possess the three attributes (the Vitruvian Triad) of firmitas, utilitas, venustas – meaning, it must be solid, useful, and beautiful. In addition, he explains that Greek architecture is based upon mathematical concepts like the circle and the square, which form the fundamental geometric patterns of the cosmos, and which are aligned with the measurements of the human body. (See also: Greek Art.) This concept was later illustrated by Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) in his iconic drawing of Vitruvian Man (c.1492, Venice Academy Gallery).

Even so, Vitruvius is regarded less as an original thinker and more as a codifier of existing theory and practice. Moreover, his low opinion of Roman architecture is understandable, given the small number of exceptional buildings. The only noteworthy structures erected during Vitruvius's time (c.100-25 BCE) were the Temple of Hercules, Cori (80 BCE); the Apartment Blocks (Insulae) at Ostia (79 BCE); and the beginnings of The Forum in Rome. Neither the Maison Carree at Nimes (19 BCE), nor the Pont Du Gard Aqueduct, Nimes (19 BCE) were in existence when De Architectura was written.

Other Architects Influenced by Classical Architecture

Neoclassical artists who imitated Roman architectural designs included the following:

Germany
Carl Gotthard Langhans (1732-1808)
Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1781-1841)

France
Jacques Germain Soufflot (1713-80)
Claude Nicolas Ledoux (1736-1806)
Jean Chalgrin (1739-1811)

UK
John Nash (1752-1835)
Sir John Soane (1753-1837)
Sir Robert Smirke (1780-1867)

United States
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
William Thornton (1759-1828)
Benjamin Latrobe (1764-1820)
Charles Bulfinch (1763-1844)