Synopses & Reviews
Vitruvius's De architectura is the only major work on architecture to survive from classical antiquity, and until the eighteenth century it was the text to which all other architectural treatises referred. While European classicists have focused on the factual truth of the text itself, English-speaking architects and architectural theorists have viewed it as a timeless source of valuable metaphors. Departing from both perspectives, Indra Kagis McEwen examines the work's meaning and significance in its own time.
Vitruvius dedicated De architectura to his patron Augustus Caesar, the first Roman emperor, whose rise to power inspired its composition near the end of the first century B.C. McEwen argues that the imperial project of world dominion shaped Vitruvius's purpose in writing what he calls "the whole body of architecture." Specifically, Vitruvius's aim was to present his discipline as the means for making the emperor's body congruent with the imagined body of the world he would rule.
Each of the book's four chapters treats a different Vitruvian "body." Chapter 1, "The Angelic Body, " deals with the book as a book, in terms of contemporary events and thought, particularly Stoicism and Stoic theories of language. Chapter 2, "The Herculean Body, " addresses the book's and its author's relation to Augustus, whose double Vitruvius means the architec to be. Chapter 3, "The Body Beautiful, " discusses the relation of proportion and geometry to architectural beauty and the role of beauty in forging the new world order.Finally, Chapter 4, "The Body of the King, " explores the nature and unprecedented extent of Augustan building programs. Included is an examination of the famous statue of Augustus from Prima Porta, sculpted soon after the appearance of De architectura.
Review
"This new, rhetorical Vitruvius deserves to be taken seriously... [a] highly original book." Vaughan Hart TLS The MIT Press
Review
"With her vast and nuanced knowledge, Indra McEwen is able to restore Vitruvius' oeuvre to its rightful place within the world of the beginning of Augustus' reign. She demonstrates that the intentions and precepts of 'De architectura' conform to the political and religious context of the period to a greater extent than is generally maintained. The continuity she establishes between Vitruvius' 'perfect man,' Polycletus's Doryphorus, and the idealized statue of Augustus is bold indeed, but proves its relevance upon reflection and compels us to consider the whole of the Vitruvian project in new terms."--Pierre Gros, Université de Provence, FrancePlease note: Earlier version had author's name misspelled. Apologies. The MIT Press
Review
"Vitruvius has provided architects with guidance across two millennia. At the beginning of a third McEwen demonstrates, with the authority of considerable scholarship, the significance of an architectural approach in which form and content are in balance. Here we are presented with the kernel of traditional architecture, not just its shell."--Robert Tavernor, Professor and Head of Architecture, University of Bath The MIT Press
Review
"Indra McEwen's book is an elegant and imaginative exploration of Vitruvius's intellectual horizons that allows us to look at *De architectura* with new respect. In her hands it transcends the dimensions of a technical handbook and becomes a window onto the Romans' conceptual construction of their world."--Andrew Wallace-Hadrill, Director, The British School at Rome, and Professor of Classics, Reading University The MIT Press
Review
"... An exemplar of scholarship in architectural history... recommended." D. Sachs Choice The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"Indra McEwen's book is an elegant and imaginative exploration of Vitruvius's intellectual horizons that allows us to look at *De architectura* with new respect. In her hands it transcends the dimensions of a technical handbook and becomes a window onto the Romans' conceptual construction of their world."--Andrew Wallace-Hadrill, Director, The British School at Rome, and Professor of Classics, Reading Universityandlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"... An exemplar of scholarship in architectural history... recommended." andlt;Bandgt;D. Sachs andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Choiceandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"This new, rhetorical Vitruvius deserves to be taken seriously... [a] highly original book." andlt;Bandgt;Vaughan Hart andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;TLSandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"Vitruvius has provided architects with guidance across two millennia. At the beginning of a third, McEwen demonstrates, with the authority of considerable scholarship, the significance of an architectural approach in which form and content are in balance. Here we are presented with the kernel of traditional architecture, not just its shell." andlt;Bandgt;Robert Tavernor andlt;/Bandgt;, Professor and Head of Architecture, University of Bathandlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"With her vast and nuanced knowledge, Indra McEwen is able to restore Vitruvius's oeuvre to its rightful place within the world of the beginning of Augustus's reign. She demonstrates that the intentions and precepts of andlt;Iandgt;De architecturaandlt;/Iandgt; conform to the political and religious context of the period to a greater extent than is generally maintained. The continuity she establishes between Vitruvius's 'perfect man,' Polyclitus's Doryphorus, and the idealized statue of Augustus is bold indeed, but proves its relevance upon reflection and compels us to consider the whole of the Vitruvian project in new terms." andlt;Bandgt;Pierre Gros andlt;/Bandgt;, Université de Provence, Franceandlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press
Synopsis
Vitruvius's De architectura is the only major work on architecture to survive from classical antiquity, and until the eighteenth century it was the text to which all other architectural treatises referred. While European classicists have focused on the factual truth of the text itself, English-speaking architects and architectural theorists have viewed it as a timeless source of valuable metaphors. Departing from both perspectives, Indra Kagis McEwen examines the work's meaning and significance in its own time.Vitruvius dedicated De architectura to his patron Augustus Caesar, the first Roman emperor, whose rise to power inspired its composition near the end of the first century B.C. McEwen argues that the imperial project of world dominion shaped Vitruvius's purpose in writing what he calls "the whole body of architecture." Specifically, Vitruvius's aim was to present his discipline as the means for making the emperor's body congruent with the imagined body of the world he would rule.Each of the book's four chapters treats a different Vitruvian "body." Chapter 1, "The Angelic Body," deals with the book as a book, in terms of contemporary events and thought, particularly Stoicism and Stoic theories of language. Chapter 2, "The Herculean Body," addresses the book's and its author's relation to Augustus, whose double Vitruvius means the architect to be. Chapter 3, "The Body Beautiful," discusses the relation of proportion and geometry to architectural beauty and the role of beauty in forging the new world order. Finally, chapter 4, "The Body of the King," explores the nature and unprecedented extent of Augustan building programs. Included is an examination of the famous statue of Augustus from Prima Porta, sculpted soon after the appearance of De architectura.
Synopsis
Vitruvius, as he himself lamented, was not a success professionally nor was he a talented writer, yet his De architectura, written for the new emperor Augustus, was the single most important architectural text for 1600 years. This scholarly and well-illustrated study examines the historical framework for the text, including the influence of contemporary philosophical thought and actual events, such as Augustus establishing his kingship and divinity. McEwan considers the ways in which Vitruvius united ten scrolls into one text and how the book was a product of the Roman concept of honour and patronage. Chapters also examine the links Vitruvius made between buildings and the human body, the idea of kingship and Augustus' unprecedented building programme. The study combines historical analysis with a close reading of the text and is illustrated throughout with examples of Greek and Roman buildings and artworks.
Synopsis
A historical study of Vitruvius's De architectura, showing that his purpose in writing "the whole body of architecture" was shaped by the imperial Roman project of world dominion.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 407-476) and index.
Synopsis
A historical study of Vitruvius's De architectura, showing that his purpose in writing "the whole body of architecture"was shaped by the imperial Roman project of world dominion.
Synopsis
andlt;Pandgt;Vitruvius's De architectura is the only major work on architecture to survive from classical antiquity, and until the eighteenth century it was the text to which all other architectural treatises referred. While European classicists have focused on the factual truth of the text itself, English-speaking architects and architectural theorists have viewed it as a timeless source of valuable metaphors. Departing from both perspectives, Indra Kagis McEwen examines the work's meaning and significance in its own time.Vitruvius dedicated De architectura to his patron Augustus Caesar, the first Roman emperor, whose rise to power inspired its composition near the end of the first century B.C. McEwen argues that the imperial project of world dominion shaped Vitruvius's purpose in writing what he calls "the whole body of architecture." Specifically, Vitruvius's aim was to present his discipline as the means for making the emperor's body congruent with the imagined body of the world he would rule.Each of the book's four chapters treats a different Vitruvian "body." Chapter 1, "The Angelic Body," deals with the book as a book, in terms of contemporary events and thought, particularly Stoicism and Stoic theories of language. Chapter 2, "The Herculean Body," addresses the book's and its author's relation to Augustus, whose double Vitruvius means the architect to be. Chapter 3, "The Body Beautiful," discusses the relation of proportion and geometry to architectural beauty and the role of beauty in forging the new world order. Finally, chapter 4, "The Body of the King," explores the nature and unprecedented extent of Augustan building programs. Included is an examination of the famous statue of Augustus from Prima Porta, sculpted soon after the appearance of De architectura.andlt;/Pandgt;
About the Author
Indra Kagis McEwen is a postdoctoral fellow at the Canadian Centre for Architecture and lecturer at the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal.