Alberti - Writer or Artist? (Week 6, Blog 2)

Of Alberti, Vasari writes, "the famous Leon Battista Alberti is better known for his writings than for the works he did with his hands" and Alberti did do quite a bit of writing. By Vasari's account here is a list of the works he published: "he composed a treatise on architecture in ten books which he published in 1481... a treatise on painting in three books... a treatise on pulling weights and the rules for measuring heights, as well as a book on the civic life and some erotic works in both prose and verse." With a list of published works that long, one can hardly be surprised that his written work has surpassed the fame of his physical work. But that shouldn't diminish the importance of those physical works.

The facade of Santa Maria Novella

The true talent of Alberti as an architect was his ability to see and replicate design elements of Ancient Roman architecture and adjust them to fit the needs of Renaissance Italy. Take for example, the facade of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. He took many aspects of traditional Roman architecture, arches, the frieze, columns and replicated their shape to create a uniquely timeless facade for the church.

But ultimately his thoughts on the theory of architecture out way the works he did in the actual practice of architecture.