Aeolian Winds and the Spirit in Renaissance Architecture

Book excerpt: Written by scholars of international stature, Aeolian Winds and the Spirit in Renaissance Architecture presents studies of Renaissance pneumatology exploring the relationship between architecture and the disciplines of art and science. One of the principle goals of Renaissance architects was to augment the powers of pneuma so as to foster the art of well-being. Central to the study of pneumatic architecture are six Italian villas connected together by a ventilating system of caves and tunnels, including Eolia, in which Trento established an academic circle of scholars that included Palladio, Tazzo and Ruzzante. Picking up on current interest in environmental issues, Aeolian Winds and the Spirit in Renaissance Architecture reintroduces Renaissance perspectives on the key relationships in environmental issues between architecture and art and science. This beautifully illustrated and unprecedented study will illuminate the studies of any architecture or Renaissance student or scholar.