New methods to survey and represent the classical architecture: the Rosario’s altar of Beata Paola’s chapel in Volta Mantovana

Abstract

A programmed script has been developed, that simplifies the survey of architectural elements based on classic architectural orders. The script
is based on the mathematical transposition of some graphical methods presented by main treatises (Serlio and Vignola) of architectonic orders
of XVI century. The proposed code, based on smart part dialog windows, indicates a very limited amount of significant points that must be measured in order to complete determine the geometric description
of a specific architectonic classical element. The proposed method has been applied to the survey of the capitals and trabeations of some altars of the Volta Mantovana church (Italy). Comparisons has been made between the geometries obtained by means of the new proposed script and traditional survey techniques, which clearly indicate the validity of the proposed method.