The regular architect: or the general rule of the five orders of architecture of M. Giacomo Barozzio Da Vignola. With a new addition of Michael Angelo Buonaroti. / Rendred into English from the original Italian, and explained, by John Leeke student and teacher of the mathematicks, for the use and benefit of free masons, carpenters, joyners, carvers, painters, bricklayers, plaisterers: in general for all ingenious persons that are concerned in the famous art of building.

To the READER.

Courteous Reader,

I Intend here briefly to declare, for the better understanding hereof, what was the occasion that moved me to make this small Work, and afterward to publish it for the common service of those that take delight therein. Having Exercis'd this Art of Architecture for divers years in sundry pla∣ces, I have been alwaies pleased to see the Opinions of as many Writers as I had, concerning this practice of the Ornaments, and by comparing them both among themselves, and with the Works of the Ancients, which are seen yet in being, to draw from thence some Rule, on which I might relie with such security, as might please, if not all, yet at least the greater part of them that are capable to judge of this Art, and that only to serve my own use, without any other end. Therefore laying aside many things of those Writers, from whence ariseth no small difference, to the end to rest more secure, I proposed to my self the ancient Ornaments of the five Orders which are seen among the Antiquities of Rome; and considering all together, and examining them by diligent Measures, I have found that those which seem most beautiful to common judgment, and which represent themselves with most grace before our Eyes, those I say have a certain cor∣respondence and proportion of Numbers among themselves not intricate, seeing that each of the lesser Members measure the greater, punctually distributing them into so many parts. From whence considering more nearly, that all our Senses are pleased in this Pro∣portion, and displeasing things are different from it, as the Musicians do most sensibly demonstrate in their Science; I have taken Pains these many years to reduce the said five Orders of Architecture under one brief Rule, easie, and which might readily be put in practice; and the manner which I have observed in it is thus. Desiring to bring to this Rule the Dorick Order, for an Example I have found the Theatre of Marcellus to be the most commended among all others, according to the judgment of every one, and therefore also I have

taken it for the Foundation of the Rule of the said Order; of which having determined the principal parts, if afterward certain of the lesser Members have not so exactly answered to the proportion of Numbers (a thing which often happens by the work of the Tools, or other accident, which may often be in these small things) that I have fitted to my Rule, not differing in any thing of importance, but accompanying rather that small licence with the authority of other Dorick Orders, which also are esteemed beautiful; from whence I have taken the other smaller parts, alwaies when it was necessary to supply it. Not as Zeuxis did of the Virgins among the Crotoniacks, but as my judgment hath led me. I have made this Election of all the Orders, taking them purely altogether from the Ancients, and not mixing any thing of my own, except it be the distribution of Proportion, founded on simple Numbers, not having regard either to the Braces, Feet, or Palmes of any Place, but only to one Arbitrary Measure, called A Module, divided into so many parts as from Order to Order may be seen in its proper place. And by this means I have so facilitated this part of Archi∣tecture (otherwise difficult) that any mean understanding, if he have but only some taste of the Art, may comprehend the whole at one view; and easily use the same, without taking much pains in reading. Yet had I no intent to publish this Work, if it had not been for the intreatie of many of my Friends which desired it; and much more by the Liberality of my perpetual, most Illustrious, and most Reverend Lord, Cardinal Farnese; which, besides that I have received such courtesies from his Honourable House, which hath given me favour to make this diligence, hath also given me the mean to be able to satisfie my Friends in this particular, and to give you suddenly other greater things on this Subject, if this Part be so accepted of you as I hope it will be. And seeing that in this place it is not my design to answer Objections, which I know will be propounded by some, that being not my intention; so leaving the charge to the Work it self, which being acceptable to the Judi∣cious, will cause them to answer for me against the Objections of others: I say only, That if any one shall judge this Work to be vain, maintaining that there can no firm Rule be given, because that according to the opinion of all, and namely of Vitruvius, there must oftentimes be added and substracted to the proportions of the Members of the Ornaments, to the intent to supply by Art in those places, where our sight may be deceived by any accident. To that I answer, That it is wholly necessary in that case to know how we

would have them represented to our Eyes, which shall be alwaies a firm Rule, which in another place I have propounded to be observed, seeing that we proceed therein by certain curious Rules of Perspe∣ctive. The Practice whereof (so much as is necessary to this Art, and to Painting both together) I hope to give you suddenly, in such manner as I am assured will be dilectable to you.

My intention, as I have said, was none other than to be understood by those only, which have already some taste of the Foundation of the Art, and therefore I had not added the Name to any particular Member of the Five Orders, presupposing them to be already known. But finding afterwards, by experience, that the Work was very acceptable to divers Persons of Quality, moved by the desire they had to be able to understand with little labour the entire of this Art concerning the Ornaments, and that they desired no other thing than the particular Names, I was willing to add them accor∣ding as they are ordinarily called at Rome, and in such order as you may see, only advertising that the Members which are common to divers Orders, after they have been only once named in the first Order, there is no mention made of them in the other Orders.

G. Barozzio.