Sebastiano Serlio on Architecture, Volume 1

This new translation of Sebastiano Serlio on Architecture, Volume 1 provides valuable insights into classical design principles and their lasting impact.

Sebastiano Serlio (1475-1554) is recognized as the foremost architectural writer and theorist of the sixteenth century. Despite his significant contributions, his works have remained largely inaccessible until now. This new translation of Sebastiano Serlio on Architecture, Volume 1 replaces the outdated English version from 1611, which was based on an inaccurate Dutch translation of the original Italian text. Translators Vaughan Hart and Peter Hicks have worked directly from Serlio's corrected editions, providing readers with fresh access to this influential treatise.

In this volume, Serlio introduces the foundational rules of geometry and perspective before delving into the ornamental grandeur of ancient Roman architecture, including baths, temples, arches, and palaces. He offers practical advice on integrating classical elements into modern interior designs. Notably, Serlio's innovative discussion of the Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns, along with his addition of the Composite order, established a canon of Five Orders that became authoritative for architects for over a century.

The efforts made by Serlio to codify a design language that respected tradition while encouraging innovation resonate with the pursuits of later architects in the twentieth century. His beautiful woodcut illustrations are faithfully reproduced in this edition, which also includes a comprehensive introduction, insightful commentary, and a glossary of terms, making Sebastiano Serlio on Architecture, Volume 1 an essential resource for anyone interested in the history of architecture.