Vitruvius
Name: Vitruvius
Nickname/Alias: born: Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
Achievements: Ancient Roman architect
Born: 1st century BC
Died: Unknown
Field & Discipline: Architecture; Architect
Language: Latin
Father: Unknown
Mother: Unknown
Siblings: Unknown
Spouse: Unknown
Children: Unknown
Education: Classical liberal education.
Major Work:
"On Architecture" (late 1st century BC).
Life & Times:
Vitruvius was an architect, arms expert and civil engineer who was employed in the service of the Roman Empire and spent most of his life in the armed services. What little is known about him comes from his own writings.
Although he does not specify which Roman emperors he worked for, historians agree that one was probably Augustus, and that Viruvius wrote his famous treatise "On Architecture" some time after 27 BC. Since he described himself as an old man at that time, this also implies he worked during the time of Julius Caesar.
In his writings, he stated "Encampments, war machines, naval construction, brick- making, carpentry, pile-bridges, surveying, roads, canals, harbours, forts and walls, were but a few of the demands made of the architect-technician in the Roman legions." Vitruvius specifically said that he and three others were "assigned the construction and repair of ballistae, scorpiones, and other artillery pieces.”
From the knowledge displayed in his treatise it is clear that Vitruvius' awareness of building materials, constructions and local variances in Spain, Gaul, Asia Minor and Greece, particularly Athens, was probably the result of his association with Julius Caesar and his experience of travel.
After Caesar was murdered in 44 BC, Vitruvius switched loyalties to the young Octavian, who took the name Augustus, following his victory at Actium, in 27 BC. Vitruvius mentioned in his writings that Octavia, Augustus' sister, was helpful to him.
When Vispanius Agrippa, a military aide of Augustus and later his son-in-law, was working on the water supply for Rome, Vitruvius apparently included the use of a newly designed lead pipe. The Roman historian, Frontinus, mentions Vitruvius in connection with work on the aqueducts of Rome and although he may have been involved in several of the monumental projects of the age, his name can be attached specifically to only one urban scheme, the forum of the Augustan colony at Fanum Fortunae (modern Fano) in Umbria, Italy.
Vitruvius’ own account of his work on the basilica in Fano demonstrated his expertise in
design, building techniques and the use of materials. In his later years, Vitruvius continued to work as a military surveyor for Augustus, eventually receiving a life pension from him.
Vitruvius recalled that he had not made a great deal of money in his career and that he did not have a great reputation as an architect. The treatise, however, which he wrote during his later years, "On Architecture,” ensured his fame.
Although based partly on theoretical works of the ancient Greeks, the treatise was also written from Vitruvius' own considerable experience. He divided "On Architecture" into ten books, each dealing with a particular branch of knowledge. In the prefaces of each section, Vitruvius generally referred to ancient Greek sources and the experts of those days.
Book 1 covered the science of architecture and the branches of knowledge which trained architect needed to know. This book revealed the respect in which architects were held, or at least the way in which Vitruvius saw their role.
He listed grammar, music, painting, sculpture, medicine, geometry, mathematics, astronomy and optics as necessary subjects for study. Music would help to tune ballistae, catapults and scorpiones -- machines for hurling rocks and darts -- and to make sure that the acoustic design of theatres was effective. Medicine would help in public health, for example in the choice of hygienic town sites. Astronomy would be applied to the proper design of sun dials.
Book 1 continued with subjects such as the general principles of architecture and design for fortifications and the proper situations for temples dedicated to various deities.
Book 2 covered materials to be used.
Books 3 and 4 were about the correct style for religious architecture, with a preface on ancient Greek writers. In them he discussed symmetry and proportion, the types of Greek temples and the Ionic, Doric, Corinthian and Tuscan architectural orders.
Book 5 dealt with public buildings, after a preface on the theories of Pythagoras. In this book, Vitruvius discussed forums, prisons, theatres, baths, covered walks and other buildings for athletes, harbours and quays.
Book 6 discussed sites and planning for domestic architecture: private houses, farms and country houses, the correct aspects for rooms, different buildings to suit different sites and designing in wood, stone, brick or concrete.
Book 7 opened with a preface on the architectural opinions of the Greeks, with lists of Greek sculptors, then went on to cover the decoration of buildings and the design and execution of mosaic floors, gypsum mouldings, stucco, hollow walls to keep out damp, colours for mural decoration, the use hot wax, of red lead and the use of mercury to extract the gold from worn out pieces of embroidery.
Book 8, covered hydraulic engineering, and included the discovery of water sources, observations and experiment, instruments for levelling, construction of aqueducts, pipes of lead and clay.
Book 9 was written on astronomy, sun dials and water clocks. In the preface, he discussed geometry in Greek science and described the discovery of specific gravity by Archimedes and other discoveries.
Book 10 preface mentioned a law at ancient Ephesus which compelled architects to complete any public building they had started. and went on to say that this would be useful in contemporary Rome. It then dealt with machinery, including windmills, windlasses, axles, cranes, scaling ladders, pulleys, shields and battering rams.
Vitruvius’ work was rediscovered in the fifteenth century and the oldest manuscript still in existence is a copy dating from the tenth century.
Whenever there was a period of classical revival, people turned to his writings. For example, in England the medieval custom of putting earthenware jars under the floor of the stalls in church choirs could have been following Vitruvius’ recommendation to place bronze vases round theatre auditoria.
Later architects who followed his principles were [influenced] Bramante*, [influenced] Michelangelo* and [influenced] Palladio*. Vitruvius also influenced artists such as [influenced] El Greco*, who illustrated an edition of Vitruvius.
Extra Connections: He influenced: [influenced] Alberti*, [influenced] Ghiberti* [influenced] Romano*, [influenced] Trissino*, [influenced] Durer* and [influenced] Beeckman*
His work related to the [principles used in] Villa d’Este* and the use of the [influenced use of] camera obscura*
Assessment: Vitruvius’ "On Architecture" has influenced architecture and art in thewWestern world since its discovery in the early Renaissance.
Oneliner: Vitruvius, influential ancient Roman architect
Bibliography:
- McKay, Alexander, Vitruvius, Architect and Engineer, Building and Building Techniques in Augustan Rome, Macmillan Education, London, 1978.