The Mirror of Architecture: or the Ground-Rules of the Art of Building, Exactly laid down by Vincent Scamozzi Master-Builder of Venice... Possibly 1676

This is the cover of "The Mirror of Architecture," penned by Vincenzo Scamozzi, a master builder from Venice, sometime between the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Think about Venice at this moment: a Republic, yes, but also a trading empire built on the backs of laborers and the control of waterways. Bound in worn leather, the book is more than just an aesthetic object; it's a portal into the world of Renaissance architecture, which was a world of men, power, and privilege. Scamozzi lays down what he sees as the ground rules of building, which at the time were based on very rigid classical ideals. Reflect on how these rules, like the architecture itself, were instruments of control, shaping not only buildings but also the lives of those who inhabited them. What kind of legacy has this left on our world?