Leon Battista Alberti Essay Example

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Alberti traveled extensively through Ferrara, Bologna, Florence, Mantua, Rimini, and notably Rome, widening his firsthand research on ancient ruins, fragmented remnants of Rome's grandeur, and the reservoirs of Classic Antiquity's language. Among his early creations is Della famiglia (On the Family), which marks the beginning of several conversations centered on moral philosophy. These dialogues were composed in the vernacular to cater to an audience not trained in Latin. In these philosophical discussions, Alberti fused the ethical principles of old Rome with a modern perspective that deemed labor as merit or a reflection of human mentality.

While Alberti had the capacity to paint, very few of his artworks survived. In 1435, he authored the book 'On Painting' which outlined the techniques for creating three-dimensional images on a two-dimensional canvas. These principles of perspective initially discovered and illustrated by Filippo Brunelleschi were underscored by Alberti. The book 'On Painting' served as a guide for many Renaissance artists, leading them towards the creation of more realistic and perspective-rich creations. In 1438, he crossed paths with Marchese Leonello at the Este court in Ferrara, who inspired him to direct his focus onto the discipline of architecture.

Alberti's initial work, a miniature triumphal arch that holds a statue of Leonello’s father riding a horse, remains intact. Prompted by Leonello, Alberti embarked on an extensive exploration of architectural theory and started the refurbishment of texts from Vitruvius, a famed architect and theoretician from ancient Rome. Upon the ascension of Nicholas V to the papacy in 1447, Alberti was appointed his architectural consultant. Their collaborative efforts led to several building ventures in Rome, including the revamping of St.