OBSERVATIONS 
CONCERNING THE 
LIFE OF VITRUVIUS. 
WE know little more concerning Vitruvius than what is to be gathered from his own writings. From 
these we learn, that his parents caused him to be early instructed in architecture, as well as in many other 
sciences. We have no account of his parents, or the place of his birth; but he was doubtless a native of some 
part of Italy, if not of Rome itself; for, in sundry parts of his book, he uses the words nos, noster, &c. to 
distinguish the Romans, and their buildings, from all others. By the knowledge he appears to have had of 
divers nations, and their public edifices, it is very probable that he had spent much of his time in travel. He 
tells us, he had acquired some fortune, as well as reputation, by his profession; but, in his sixth proem, he 
says, it was not to be wendered at, that he was so little known; for he had not, like the generality of architects, 
been forward in soliciting and petitioning for employment, having learnt not to be solicitous of care, and being 
ashamed to request advantages. 
HE was one of the engineers of the Roman army, civil and military architecture being at that time united 
and practised as one profession. From his own words, in his second preface, we learn that he was low of 
stature, and was old and infirm when he published his writings. The period in which he wrote, and the 
Emperor to whom he dedicated his books, are points not yet ascertained; some arguing for the time of Augustus, 
and others for that of one of the succeeding Emperors, particularly Titus. The former opinion is, however, the 
most generally received; notwithstanding which, several circumstances that I have observed, oblige me to 
incline to the latter. I will, therefore, here mention the principal arguments on both sides, that the reader may 
be able to judge for himself. 
THE arguments for the reign of Augustus are, 
Ist. THAT, though Vitruvius, in the course of his work, makes mention of many remarkable public edifices 
that were erected before the reign of Augustus, he yet mentions none of those magnificent structures that were 
erected during, or after that time; which it is probable he would not have omitted had he wrote after that period.