Design drawing and representation science in 16th to 17th C. architectural treatises

In architectural treatises, the design drawing exhibits specific interconnections with the science of representation.In the 16th and 17th centuries, architectural literature in Italy was rich in points for reflection relevant to this article's subject.This paper aims to highlight the contributions to the science of representation made by 16th- and 17th-century architectural treatises. To this end, a selection of printed treatises and images of design drawings is examined.The design drawings in 16th- and 17th-century architectural treatises reflect the characteristics of contemporary figurative thought, highlighting connections to the artistic and geometric realms, where methods of graphic representation are scientifically defined. The contribution of these treatises to the science of representation lies not only in the application of projective methods—some of which had not yet been scientifically formalized—but also in innovative representational solutions, driven by the need to convey models and examples to other designers and builders effectively.