r
beauty, seeing that, considering the time, there are no better examples
of illumination to be seen, nor any work wrought with more invention,
judgment, and design; and the colours, above all, could not be more
beautiful or laid in their places more delicately, so perfect is their
grace.

FOOTNOTES:

[5] See note on p. 57, Vol. I.

[6] This seems to be a mistake for Benedict XI.

[7] See note on p. 57, Vol. I.

[8] See note on p. 57, Vol. I.

LEON BATISTA ALBERTI

LIFE OF LEON BATISTA ALBERTI

ARCHITECT OF FLORENCE

Very great is the advantage bestowed by learning, without exception, on
all those craftsmen who take delight in it, but particularly on
sculptors, painters, and architects, for it opens up the way to
invention in all the works that are made; not to mention that a man
cannot have a perfect judgment, be his natural gifts what they may, if
he is deprived of the complemental advantage of being assisted by
learning. For who does not know that it is necessary, in choosing sites
for buildings, to show enlightenment in the avoidance of danger from
pestiferous winds, insalubrious air, and the smells and vapours of
impure and unwholesome waters? Who is ignorant that a man must be able,
in whatever work he is seeking to carry out, to reject or adopt
everything for himself after mature consideration, without having to
depend on help from another man's theory? For theory, when separated
from practice, is generally of very little use; but when the two chance
to come together, there is nothing that is more helpful to our life,
both because art becomes much richer and more perfect by the aid of
science, and because the counsels and the writings of learned craftsmen
have in themselves greater efficacy and greater credit than the words or
works of those who know nothing but mere practice, whether they do it
well or ill. And that all this is true is seen manifestly in Leon
Batista Alberti, who, having studied the Latin tongue, and having given
attention to architecture, to perspective, and to painting, left behind
him books written in such a manner, that, since not one of our modern
craftsmen has been able to expound these matters in writing, although
very many of them in his own country have excelled him in working, it is
generally believed--such is the influence of his writings over the pens
and speech of the learned--that he was superior to all those who were
actually superior to him in work. Whe