Scamozzi’s Orders and Proportions: An End to Illusions or a Visionary Harbinger?

Abstract

While many studies have addressed the issue of proportions in the work of Palladio, both in the orders and in the forms and dimensions of architecture, very little interest has been shown in Vincenzo Scamozzi’s handling of this theme. This article examines Scamozzi’s influential published commentary regarding the proportions of the orders, rooms, and entire buildings, and draws numerous comparisons with Palladio. It interprets Scamozzi as a bridge linking the Renaissance with Enlightenment thinking.