Andrea Palladio

Architecture Italian 1508 – 1580 101 quotes

An Italian architect whose work inspired Palladianism, a style that influenced Western architecture for centuries, known for his villas in Veneto.

Quotes by Andrea Palladio

Beauty will result from the form and the correspondence of the whole to the parts, of the parts to each other, and of these again to the whole; that a building may appear an entire and complete body, wherein each member agrees with the other, and all necessary to compose what you intend to form.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The most beautiful things are those that are most useful.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The ancient Romans, who were the most excellent architects, made use of the five orders, which are the Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

I have always been of the opinion that the ancient Romans, in their buildings, followed the dictates of nature.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The architect must have a good eye, a good memory, and a good hand.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The site of a building should be chosen with great care, for it is of no small importance to the health and convenience of those who are to live in it.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The principal parts of a building are the foundations, the walls, the roof, and the openings.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The Doric order is the most ancient and the most robust.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The Ionic order is more delicate and graceful than the Doric.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The Corinthian order is the most ornate and the most magnificent.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The Composite order is a mixture of the Ionic and Corinthian.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The Tuscan order is the simplest and the most rustic.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The proportions of a building should be such that they are pleasing to the eye and agreeable to the mind.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The columns should be placed at such a distance from each other that they appear to support the weight of the building.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The windows should be placed in such a manner that they admit sufficient light and air into the building.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The doors should be of a convenient size and placed in such a manner that they afford easy access to the building.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The stairs should be easy of ascent and descent, and placed in such a manner that they do not obstruct the passage.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The roof should be constructed in such a manner that it protects the building from the inclemency of the weather.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The materials of a building should be chosen with great care, for they are of no small importance to its durability and beauty.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570

The foundations should be laid with great care, for they are the basis of the whole building.

The Four Books of Architecture 1570