The first German Vitruvius

Vitruvius Pollio, Marcus. Vitruvius Teutsch. Nemlichen des aller namhafftigisten un[d] hocherfarnesten, Römischen Architecti, und Kunstreichen Werck oder Bawmeisters [...] Zehen Bücher von der Architectur und künstlichem Bawen. Ein Schlüssel und einleytung aller Mathematische[n] und Mechanischen künst [...] Alles mit schönen künstlichen Figuren und Antiquiteten [...] gezieret und erkleret.

€ 35.000,00

The first German translation of the only architectural treatise to survive from classical antiquity. Considered the supreme authority by Italian Renaissance architects, it became the single most influential work for the later development of European architecture.

The translation is by Walther Hermann Ryff (Rivius), who was responsible for two more architectural works in German, both printed by Petreius in 1547, as well as a Latin edition of Vitruvius from 1543. "The illustrations are attributed to Peter Flötner, Virgil Solis, Georg Pencz, Hans Brosamer and Erhard Schön, with initial letters by Hans Springinklee. They are mainly based on the 1521 Como edition, but many of the plates were used in Ryff's Bawkunst [1547]" (Fowler, p. 317f.), while some are ultimately derived from the 1499 "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili". Chipps Smith concludes that Flötner was the principal artist of the project and that his designs were followed by Solis and Pencz. "Excepting Serlio's 'General Rules of Architecture' of 1542, the 'Vitruvius teutsch' was the first significant architectural treatise published in German. Much of the technical information was still relevant to 16th century architects and artists" (Chipps Smith).