Leon Battista Alberti

Leon Battista Alberti, Self-Portrait, c. 1435, NGA 43845

Raising of the Son of Teophilus and St. Peter Enthroned 27

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Palazzo Rucellai

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The Archtitecture of Leon Battista Alberti title page

Pienza Piazza Pio II

Leon Battista Alberti (February 14, 1404 – April 25, 1472) was an Italian Renaissance humanist author, artist, architect, poet, priest, linguist, philosopher, and cryptographer. He epitomized the Renaissance Man, a term that reflects an individual with broad knowledge and versatile talents across a wide range of subjects, similar to his contemporaries such as Leonardo da Vinci. Alberti was particularly noted for his contributions to the field of architecture, where his works and theoretical writings have had a profound influence on Western architectural practice.

Early Life

Born in Genoa, Italy, Alberti was a member of an exiled Florentine noble family. His education was comprehensive, fostering his future interests in the arts, sciences, and humanities. He studied at the University of Padua and later at the University of Bologna, where he excelled in law and the classics.

Career

Alberti's career spanned various disciplines, but he is most renowned for his impact on architecture. His architectural treatises, De re aedificatoria (On the Art of Building), written in the mid-15th century, was the first architectural theory book since Vitruvius' De architectura and became a cornerstone of Western architectural theory. In this work, Alberti emphasized the importance of proportion, harmony, and the use of classical elements, principles that became foundational in Renaissance architecture. His designs include notable buildings such as the facade of the Santa Maria Novella in Florence and the Basilica of Sant'Andrea in Mantua.

In addition to architecture, Alberti made significant contributions to art, notably in theory. His treatise De pictura (On Painting), dedicated to Filippo Brunelleschi, introduced the idea of linear perspective, a technique that became a hallmark of Renaissance art. This work not only influenced painters but also had a profound impact on the development of Western art.

Alberti was also a pioneer in cryptology, developing and describing the first polyalphabetic cipher, which laid the groundwork for future developments in cryptography.

Legacy

Alberti's work had a lasting impact on the Renaissance and beyond, influencing generations of artists, architects, and scholars. His interdisciplinary approach to knowledge and his ability to integrate science, art, and humanities set a precedent for future scholars and practitioners. Alberti's theories and designs reflect the Renaissance ideal of harmonizing classical traditions with contemporary needs, a principle that continues to resonate in modern architectural and artistic practices.

Selected Works

• De pictura (On Painting, 1435)
• De re aedificatoria (On the Art of Building, c. 1450)
• De statua (On Sculpture, c. 1464)

See Also

• Renaissance architecture
• Humanism
• Filippo Brunelleschi
• Vitruvius