On the Art of Building in Ten Books

Összefoglaló

De Re Aedificatoria, by Leon Battista Alberti -(1404-1472), was the first modern treatise on the theory and practice of architecture. Its importance for the subsequent history of architecture is incalculable, yet this is the first English translation based on the original, exceptionally eloquent Latin text on which Alberti's reputation as a theorist is founded.

"Brilliantly translated.... Rykwert and his team have restored the plea-sures of Alberti's writing for English readers.... This undoubtedly deserves to become the standard English translation."—Anthony Hughes, Times Literary Supplement

"A new and valuable resource which immediately relegates to the category of a curiosity Rykwert's earlier republication of James Leoni's translation.... Now all those involved with architecture — and this means not only architects, but builders, surveyors, structural engineers, and clients too —can listen to Alberti and find that he has much to say that will interest them."—John Onians, Building Design

"This English edition surpasses the earlier one in a number of significant ways.... It will no doubt soon find a place on all architectural reading lists, and deservedly so."—Paul Davies, Art History