First Modern-Language Translation of Vitruvius's De Architectura Published:
Cesare Cesariano first published an Italian translation of Vitruvius's De Architecture at Como. It was a massive improvement for the work, as it had been inaccessable to many due to its lack of illustrations and difficult-to-read Latin. The translation remedied both, putting it into language readable to the majority of literate individuals in the area and providing a plethora of illustrations that could be referenced. However, it was plagiarized numerous times and eventually forgotten after the 1556 release of Barbaro's translation with Palladio's illustrations. The image is by Cesare Cesariano [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. As it is in the public domain since the copyright term has passed, it is free to use.