Untitled Quiz

Renaissance Architecture

• Period: 14th to 17th century
• Key areas: Florence, France, Germany, England, other parts of Europe
• Characteristics: Symmetry, proportion, geometry, regularity, classical antiquity

Renaissance Architectural Theory

• Architecture moved beyond practice to theoretical discussion.
• Printing played a crucial role in spreading ideas.
• Key texts include "De re aedificatoria" by Leon Battista Alberti, "Regole generali d'architettura" by Sebastian Serlio, and "I quattro libri dell'architettura" by Andrea Palladio.
• These texts are significant sources of architectural information.

Architectural Influences

• Architectural: Presence of ancient Roman ruins in Rome influenced Italian architects. Clear forms were preferred.
• Political: Expansion of cities like Florence, Venice, and Naples led to opportunities for artists; the return of popes to Rome provided wealth and importance.
• Religious: Rome's prominence as the center of Christianity led to church construction.
• Philosophical: Study of philosophy beyond theology led to the rise of humanism.
• Civic: Civic pride affected architecture. The Hospital of the Innocents exemplifies this civic influence.
• Patronage: Rich families like the Medici sponsored artists and architects.
• Commercial: Venice controlled East Sea trade and the Medici were powerful bankers for European rulers.

General Character of Renaissance Architecture

• Plan: Square and symmetrical; proportions based on a module (ex. Saint Andrea, Mantua).
• Facade: Symmetrical layout along a vertical axis. Facades typically include pediments, pilasters, round arches and entablatures.
• Columns & Pilasters: Roman architectural orders were used (ex. Corinthian, Ionic, Composite). Could be structural or decorative.
• Arches, Vaults, Domes: Arches were round; domes and vaults were often used often borrowed from Roman or Greek architecture.
• Ceilings: Generally flat but could be coffered or painted.
• Doors & Windows: Doors often had squares or blind arches; windows were usually paired and framed within semicircular arches.

Renaissance Architectural Innovations

• Rusticated Masonry Walls: A new way of constructing walls with roughened surfaces and recessed joints.
• Quions: Rusticated corners or angles of walls.

Principal Phases of Renaissance Architecture

• Early Renaissance (Quattrocento): (1400-1500)
  • Exploration and formulation of architectural order.
  • Space organized by proportional logic and geometry;
  • Filippo Brunelleschi was a key figure.
• High Renaissance: (1500-1525)
  • Refinement of concepts from classical antiquity.
  • Donato Bramante expanded the application of classical principles to contemporary building.

Renaissance Structures in Florence (Early Renaissance or Quattrocento)

• Florence Cathedral: (1436); Architect: Filippo Brunelleschi
  • Combined Gothic, Renaissance, and Gothic Revival design styles.
  • Key elements included the dome, baptistery, campanile.
  • Notable figures involved in these components include Filippo Brunelleschi (dome), Giotto di Bondone (campanile). Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti (Baptistry Doors).
• Pazzi Chapel: (1443); Architect (credited): Filippo Brunelleschi ; A cathedral chapter house and classroom.
• Palazzo Rucellai: (1451); Architect: Leon Battista Alberti
  • The façade exemplified proportional use of pilasters and entablatures.
• Basilica di San Lorenzo: (1470); Architect: Filippo Brunelleschi; a burial place for the Medici family.
• Santa Maria Novella: (1470); Architect: Leon Battista Alberti; Featured a green and white marble façade.
• Palazzo Medici Riccardi: (1484); Architect: Michelozzo Michelozzi
  • Famous for its stone masonry.
• Basilica of Sant' Andrea: (1462-1790); Architect: Leon Battista Alberti; Nave roofed by a barrel vault.

High Renaissance Structures

• San Pietro in Montoio: (1502) ; Architect: Donato Bramante
  • First example of Tuscan order in its courtyard (Tempietto).
• St. Peter's Basilica: (1506-1626)
  • Largest church in the world; Papal enclave; burial site for Saint Peter. Most renowned architecture.
  • 12 architects involved included Donato Bramante, Giuliano da Sangallo, Fra Giocondo, Raphael, Baldassare Peruzzi, Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, Michelangelo, Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola, Giacomo della Porta, Domenico Fontana, Carlo Maderno, & Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
• Drawings and plans of these structures are also important.

Mannerism

• Architecture emerged as a reaction to the High Renaissance.
• Architects experimented with forms to emphasize solids and spatial relationships.
• Key features include giant order columns or pilasters (spanning multiple stories).
• Structures like Palazzo dei Conservatori (1530; Architect: Michelangelo), as well as Palazzo del Te (1565; Architect: Giulio Romano), and villa Capra "La Rotonda" (1565; Architect: Andrea Palladio), and Laurentian Library (1740 ; Architect: Michelangelo) provided examples of Mannerist architecture.

Baroque Architecture

• Started in 16th century Italy & embraced Renaissance vocabulary in a new style.
• Characterized by exploration of form, light, shadow and dramatic intensity.
• Prominent during 17th Century and spread to Europe and Latin America, especially with Jesuit influence.
• Church of the Gesu (1584), and Basilica di Superga (1731) are prominent examples

Rococo Architecture

• Reaction against Baroque formality.
• Developed in 18th century France.
• Characteristics include an emphasis on ornament (such as rocaille or coquilles), light, asymmetric designs.
• Featured in Catherine Palace, Russia (1749) and Palace of Queluz, Portugal (1792), among others.