CC2A 2014/15 1/1

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THE MARRIAGE OF LUMEN AND LUX!

VITRUVIUS An architect who lived in the first century BC/BCE and who wrote what is today the oldest remaining treatise on architecture - there were other treatises before Vitruvius, but only his has survived. !His treatise is known as The Ten Books on Architecture, it was dedicated it to the emperor Augustus, who was the first Roman emperor and the heir of Julius Caesar - Vitruvius had been an architect/engineer in Caesars army.!

It is related of the Socratic philosopher Aristippus that, being shipwrecked and cast ashore on the coast of the Rhodians, he observed geometrical figures drawn thereon, and cried out to his companions: let us be of good cheer, for I see the traces of men. With that he made for the city of Rhodes, and went straight to the gymnasium. There he fell to discussing philosophical subjects, and presents were bestowed upon him, so that he could not only fit himself out, but could also provide those who accompanied him with clothing and all other necessaries of life. When his companions wished to return to their country, and asked him what message he wished them to carry home, he bade them say this: that children ought to be provided with property and resources of a kind that could swim with them even out of a shipwreck. (Vitruvius, VI, 1)!

A V

AD/CEBC/BCE

Rhodes

It is related of the Socratic philosopher Aristippus that, being shipwrecked and cast ashore on the coast of the Rhodians, he observed geometrical figures drawn thereon, and cried out to his companions: let us be of good cheer, for I see the traces of men. With that he made for the city of Rhodes, and went straight to the gymnasium. There he fell to discussing philosophical subjects, and presents were bestowed upon him, so that he could not only fit himself out, but could also provide those who accompanied him with clothing and all other necessaries of life. When his companions wished to return to their country, and asked him what message he wished them to carry home, he bade them say this: that children ought to be provided with property and resources of a kind that could swim with them even out of a shipwreck. (Vitruvius, VI, 1)!

HAPTIC &

OPTIC !

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the middle ages

Romans adopt christianity as state religion

HAPTIC touch

sensible LUX

color, shadow, texture

dissolving CLOUD!

OPTIC!projection!

ideal!LUMEN!

shape, relations, measure!harmonic!MUSIC!

Italian Renaissance

ALBERTI Lived in the 15th century AD/CE. Important advisor to various cardinals, bishops, princes and popes, including what kind of buildings they should build and, sometimes, he would get involved in the design of a specific building. !He was the first person after Vitruvius to write a treatise on architecture, it is called On The Art of Edification, he also wrote a much shorter book called On Painting and it is in that book that he writes about the technology of perspective.!

BRUNELLESCHI Brunelleschi was a craftsman, he was a master goldsmith and belonged to the silk workers guild, which also included metalworkers. But Brunelleschi did not restrict his activities to working only with gold, he was involved in painting and sculpture and, of course building. He was a brilliant mathematician and inventor and is most famous for having solved a very difficult building problem, which was the problem of how to build the dome of Florence cathedral. !Alberti and Brunelleschi knew one another, in fact On Painting is dedicated to Brunelleschi and it is likely that he helped Alberti to understand perspective.!