WOTTON, Henry.

by Henry Wotton

£15,000 · Offered by Sokol Books

Rare first edition of the first work on architectural theory to be published in English, written by the retired ambassador to Venice Henry Wotton in the hope of being awarded the provostship of Eton College. Wotton knew that the appointment would be decided by George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, patron of architecture and the arts, and wrote his pamphlet to improve his chances of selection over several rivals including Francis Bacon, presenting special copies to the King, the Prince of Wales and other notable figures. The scheme worked and he was selected and, despite the haste in which it was produced, the work displays great learning and connoisseurship. Wotton ‚Äúwas the foremost exponent of Renaissance architectural theory in England and the expositor‚Ķof the unpublished ideas of Inigo Jones‚Äù. Harris. ‚ÄúOn the first page of the preface, Wotton styles himself as ‚Äúbut a gatherer and disposer of other mens stuffe.‚Äù In doing his gathering, he relied primarily on the work of Roman architect Vitruvius, but also draws from notable renaissance figures like Alberti and Palladio. Wotton ultimately lays out four principles of architecture, adapted from Vitruvius. First is Harmony, or the proper proportions in the size of rooms. Next is Convivence, or the agreement between the parts of the design and the whole. Third is Décor, or the suitability of the habitation to its inhabitant. And finally, Distribution, or the ‚Äúusefull casting of all roomes for office, entertainment,

• Binding: Hardcover

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