The Ten Books on Architecture

PREFACE.

...was built from that time at the Louvre, and is even now the most perfect model that one could choose for beautiful Architecture. The author refers to the Lescot Wing of the Louvre, designed by Pierre Lescot in the mid-1500s, which established the French Renaissance style.

Vasari in his Preface. original: "Vasari dans sa Preface." Giorgio Vasari (1511–1574) was an Italian painter and historian, famous for his 'Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects,' which shaped art history.
This honorable preference so raised the courage of everyone in the Nation who had some inclination for Architecture, and led them to apply themselves with such care to the discovery of the secrets of this Art, that they acquired enough skill to make themselves admired as far as Rome, where they produced works that even the Italians themselves recognize as masterpieces worthy of serving as a Rule for the most learned.

Louis de Foix, Parisian. Louis de Foix (c. 1530–1602) was a French architect and engineer who worked for the Spanish court and designed the famous Cordouan Lighthouse.
It was this proficiency that led King Philip II of Spain to employ a French Architect for his great Building of the Escorial; and which led the

Philibert de Lorme. Jean Bullant. Philibert de Lorme and Jean Bullant were the two most prominent French architects of the 16th century, responsible for introducing classical Roman principles into French building.
Queen Catherine de Medici to employ only Frenchmen for the design and execution of the superb Edifice of her Palace of the Tuileries. For the profound knowledge this Italian Princess had of the fine Arts, and especially of Architecture, allowed her to see such capacity in the two Architects she chose, that she believed she could not find any more skilled in all of Italy.

Jacques de Brosse. Jacques de Brosse (1571–1626) was a highly influential architect whose work bridged the Renaissance and Baroque styles in France.
Following her example, Queen Marie de Medici chose in France the great Architect who designed her incomparable Luxembourg Palace, which is considered the most accomplished Edifice in Europe.

Tasso. Paolo Giovio. original: "Le Tasse. Paul Iove." Torquato Tasso was a celebrated Italian poet, and Paolo Giovio was a renowned historian. Both are cited here as examples of scholars who praised the arts and artists.
But the excellence of these kinds of works—which initially received some esteem—did not continue to receive in France the advantageous testimonials that it has in other Countries, where persons of the highest quality find it an honor to know these beautiful things; where those who make it their profession are not treated as common Artisans and mechanical folk, but are given the status of Knight and Count Palatine; and finally, where they are spoken of with praise, placing them among Illustrious men. It is no wonder, then, if Architecture—which the initial favor of the Kings of the last century had begun to elevate in France—has fallen back into its former low state.

When those capable of creating something rare saw that the names of the great men who worked with such happy success were known to no one, while the name of the least Italian Architect was consecrated to eternity by the most excellent writers of their time; when they considered that they had been importuned a hundred times in Rome to admire things that were not as valuable as those no one deigned to look at in France; and that the greatest Lords (most of whom know no other magnificence than that of their ordinary and daily expenditure, which always exceeds their income) were far from undertaking a sumptuous Edifice; finally, when they reflected that the greatest Architects, with all the nobility of their Art, had great difficulty rising above the lowliest Artisans; they preferred to take any other path than to embrace a profession so incapable of satisfying their passion for glory.

Henry Wotton, book 1, Elements of Architecture. Sir Henry Wotton (1568–1639) was an English diplomat and author of the first significant English-language treatise on architecture, published in 1624.
It seems to me one cannot reflect on all these things without admitting that if France, because of the few fine Buildings she has had until now, gives cause for Foreigners to say that she is not the Theater of Architecture, this must not be attributed to the incapacity of the Architects, but to the little care taken to recognize their merit. There is also reason to hope that those of our Nation who now apply themselves to Architecture, encouraged by the care that the King...