Libro primo (-quinto, estraordinario) d'architettura 1566

This woodcut illustration is from Sebastiano Serlio’s "Book Three" on architecture, published in Venice. It showcases various architectural elements, each a carrier of ancient memory. Observe the prominent presence of the acanthus leaf motif adorning the Corinthian capital. A symbol of regeneration and artistic excellence, it echoes from ancient Greek temples to Roman monuments and is reborn here. This motif first appears in Vitruvius' account of the architect Callimachus, who was inspired by a basket of offerings left on a young woman’s grave, covered by an acanthus plant. This basket is transformed and refigured across time, a testament to the persistence of symbols. The image is charged with cultural memory, speaking to our subconscious understanding of form, beauty, and the enduring human quest for order. This illustration acts as a psycho-social bridge, linking the classical past with the aspirations of the Renaissance.