Palladio — the Complete Buildings is one of Taschen's 25th anniversary special editions and also marks the 500th anniversary of Palladio's birth. Andrea Palladio (1508–1580) is considered by many to be the most influential architect of 16th-Century northern Italy. His designs for villas and palaces, and his treatise, I quattro libri dell'architettura (1570; The Four Books of Architecture), have influenced architectural design all over Europe.
Andrea Palladio — Renaissance Architect
Palladio was born in Padua, in the Republic of Venice. The son of a miller, his birth-name was Andrea di Pietro della Gondola. At the age of 13 he entered a six-year stonemason apprenticeship in the workshop of Bartolomeo Cavazza da Sossano. In 1524 he moved to Vicenza and enrolled in the guild of bricklayers and stonemasons, taking up a post in the workshop of Giovanni and Girolamo da Pedemuro. In 1530 he tried to set up his own business but the venture failed. He received the title "architect" in 1540.
Patronage of Count Giangiorgio Trissino
Between 1530 and 1538 Count Giangiorgio Trissino (1478-1550), the humanist poet and scholar, was rebuilding his villa at Cricoli, near Vicenza. Palladio (still known as Pietro at this point) was working there as a mason when Trissino noticed his skills and offered him a humanist education. Trissino introduced the young architect to Vincenzan society and enabled him to study contemporary and Roman architecture. In 1545 Trissino gave him the name "Palladio", alluding to the mythological figure Pallas Athene and also to a character in Trissino's poem Italia Liberata dai Goti.
The Layout of Palladio — The Complete Buildings
Palladio — the Complete Buildings is very simply set out. An introduction is followed by one chapter devoted to each of Palladio's buildings containing illustrations such as ground plans, internal and external photographs showing both architectural and artistic features. The text goes into considerable detail. In most chapters readers will find ground plans and elevations together with very precise analysis of each building, statuary and interior decoration.
A final chapter is devoted to Palladio's legacy and a detailed bibliography is provided. The locations of Palladio's buildings are shown on maps of Veneto, Vicenza and Venezia and any architectural terms are explained in the glossary.
A Criticism of Palladio — The Complete Buildings
This writer has just one criticism. Many artists and sculptors worked on Palladio's buildings and their artistry is referred to in the text and photographs. However, the book has no index making it very difficult to locate specific text or art work.
High Quality, Affordable and Easy to Read
The language of this highly affordable publication is accessible to everyone from lovers of architecture to students and academics. The font is a good easily readable size and the book is printed on high quality paper with very good quality photographic reproductions.
Royal Academy of Arts — Palladio Exhibition
Palladio fans will be pleased to know that Palladio: His Life and Legacy, the first exhibition for over 30 years devoted to Andrea Palladio, will take place at London's Royal Academy of Arts from 31st January to 13th April 2009.
Palladio — the Complete Buildings (ISBN: 978-3-8365-0547-5, hardback) by Manfred Wundram and Thomas Pape, is published by Taschen GmbH, 2008 at £7.99.
Frances Spiegel - Frances Spiegel, B.A. Hons. (Open)., Dip.Eur.Hum., read Art History/European Modern History at the Open University.
Join the Conversation