Appunti per una semiotica storica del bianco in architettura

Abstract

The paper is a short survey of the meaning and value of the colour white in western architecture from the Middle Ages to the end of the 18th century, based on a selective commentary of often well-known passages from major art literature sources. A special emphasis is obviously placed on theoretical texts such as Alberti’s De re aedificatoria and Serlio’s treatise, but also on 16th century Italian books on the emblematic meaning of colours (e.g., Morato, Sicillo Araldo).