I Dieci libri d'architettura di Gio: Antonio Rusconi. Secondo i precetti di Vitruvio, novamenti ristampati, & accresciuti della Prattica degl'Horologi Solari
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Rusconi’s edition of Vitruvius’s ten-book treatise is opened to book 3, chapter 4: "Foundation and Substructure of the Temple." The page provides the methods of achieving underground solidity by depicting a group of workmen setting the unearthed site with wooden piles, which would be later pressed down with weight-driven machinery. Departing from contemporary textual conventions, Rusconi’s edition prioritized visual instruction over text; for this reason, among others, it became a seminal work in early-modern architectural discourse. This specific copy of the book was rebound with blank pages to accommodate annotations. Handwritten French translations are found throughout, attesting to its adaptability and resonance across different cultures.
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