Book Review - On Painting, Leon Battista Alberti

I picked up this book with a lot of hopes, since this was the treatise that was said to have influenced the likes of Leonardo da Vinci. However, the much lesser mortal that I am, I couldn't gain much out of reading this book. Though Leon is said to be a Renaissance master himself, modesty seems not to be one of his virtues. Ego oozes out of his words in many pages. He seems to have believed that he could do nothing wrong and people can all start painting in a much better way by merely following his techniques. And, those with alternative view points are simply brushed aside. Such a egoistic attitude leaves a poor taste behind!

As for the book, it comprises of three chapters, or, as he calls them, three 'books'. The first one is mostly about geometrical patterns and viewpoints. Though it begins easily, soon it devolves into genius-talks. Only the second and third 'book' speak in a normal tone and are easily comprehensible and useful. The second and third chapters indeed make for a breezy read. But, as already said, his egoistic attitude shines throughout the book. Don't read this book just because it is called a 'classic' and don't read this book, if you are hoping to learn much about painting. This is a very casual work that you can do without!