Andrea Palladio is widely regarded as the most influential figure in the history of Western architecture, his principles having achieved widespread adoption. His architectural works have been valued for centuries as the quintessence of High Renaissance calm and harmony. Palladio's legacy continues to shape and inspire architectural thought through its timeless elegance and considered design.
This book is a fascinating look at the baths of ancient Rome. It includes detailed descriptions and illustrations of the baths, as well as restorations of the designs by Andrea Palladio. The book also includes an introductory preface outlining the nature of the work and a dissertation on the state of the arts during the time of the baths. This is an essential read for anyone interested in ancient Rome or architecture.
The four books of Architecture offers a compendium of Palladio's art and of the ancient Roman structures which inspired him. The First Book is devoted to building materials and techniques and the five orders of architecture: Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite. Palladio indicates the characteristic features of each order and supplies illustrations of various architectural details. The Second Book deals with private houses and mansions, almost all of Palladio's own design. Shown and described are many of his villas in and near Venice and Vicenza (including the famous Villa Capra, or "The Rotunda," the Tiene Palace, and the Valmarana Palace). Each plate gives a front view drawing of the building and the general floor plan. The Third Book is concerned with streets, bridges, piazzas, and basilicas, most of which are of ancient Roman origin. In the Fourth Book, Palladio reproduces the designs of a numer of ancient Roman temples. Plates 51 - 60 are plans and architectural sketches of the Pantheon