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What design features of Palazzo Rucellai show Leon Battista Alberti’s interest in proportion?
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Leon Battista Alberti
Leon Battista Alberti, self-portrait plaque, bronze, c. 1435; in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Leon Battista Alberti’s interest in proportion is prominently displayed in the design of the Palazzo Rucellai through several key features:
- Symmetrical Facade: Alberti’s overriding concern for balance and harmony is expressed through the symmetrical treatment of the palace’s exterior, which reflects his commitment to a perfect sense of measure.12
- Classical Orders: To organize the facade and indicate upward progression, Alberti utilized the three classical orders, a design choice inspired by the Colosseum in Rome.1
These elements exemplify how Alberti grounded his architectural practice in a fully developed aesthetic theory of proportionality, which he also codified in his influential treatise, Ten Books on Architecture.2