The Egyptian obelisk, symbol of the rays of Sol,
is brought by the elephant to the Seventh Alexander as a gift.
Is not the animal wise? Wisdom hath given to the World solely thee,
O Seventh Alexander, consequently thou hast the gifts of Sol.
—Athanasius Kircher, trans. W. Heckscher (Art Bulletin, 1947)

Inscription in the Solar Gallery of the Palazzo Spada
The Vault with its Zodiacal Signs
Illuminated by the Sun & Designed by
The Minim Mathematician Emanuel Maignan

If there is anything new in the world, anything old in the city, 
you will see a noble exemplar of it in this palace. 
When you see various marvels in other houses, you will say, 
O what riches of the Orbs and the Urbs! 
Here, where the sun itself shall be seen for many hours, 
and trace its path with shining light, go and say, 
Who has been able to bring the sun itself down from heaven? 
O what a prodigy is this of genius and of art!
trans. J. Connors, “Virtuoso Architecture in Cassiano’s Rome”

Humanist Art Review

§ EDITORIAL
§ ARTICLES

 
      We welcome you to an open dialogue on the nascent renaissance of Humanist ideas in the making of cities, architecture and art. Like the woods of Akademe, home of Plato's Academy, this is a place where discourse is an essential part of the passionate search for Truth and Beauty.