St Peter's Basilica Overview

St Peter's Basilica

• St. Peter's Basilica is the biggest and most important church in Roman Catholicism.
• It is located within Vatican City and is a symbol of the Vatican and the Papacy.
• Donato Bramante was the first chief architect of the Basilica.
• Bramante designed the initial plan and laid the foundations for the new basilica in the early 16th century.
• Bramante proposed a Greek cross plan and a dome similar to the Pantheon in Rome.
• Antonio da Sangallo the Younger made significant modifications to the original plan.
• He oversaw the construction of the basilica's dome.
• Michelangelo Buonarroti made several changes to the design, particularly the dome.
• He designed the dome, which is one of the basilica's most recognizable features.
• Giacomo Della Porta completed the dome following Michelangelo's plans.
• Carlo Maderno was responsible for the facade of St. Peter's Basilica.
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini contributed to the layout of St. Peter's Square and designed the baldacchino over the high altar.

Renaissance Architecture

• The Renaissance was a period of revival of classical art and learning in Europe.
• The Renaissance began around 1400 and was largely influenced by classical Roman and Greek elements, such as arches, columns, and domes.
• Early Renaissance buildings had symmetrical facades and clear, streamlined volumes.
• The Renaissance started in Florence.
• Renaissance buildings have flat roofs, walls of large, dressed masonry blocks, and an emphasis on horizontality,
• Ornamentation was based on pagan or classical mythological subjects.
• Important architects include Brunelleschi, Michelozzo, and Alberti.

High Renaissance

• This period began around 1500.
• It saw the development of classical elements adapted to 16th-century building styles.

Rococo Architecture

• The Rococo style emerged from the Baroque movement and developed its own unique characteristics.
• Rococo architecture is marked by its elegant refinement, using different materials for a delicate effect.
• Rococo architecture is known for its shell work and foliage ornamentation.
• Rococo is an interior style, playfully decorated with flowers, birds, ribbons, etc.
• Vivid colors were replaced by pastel shades.
• Rococo is also referred to as "Late Baroque".

Architectural Features of Renaissance Architecture

• Plans:
  • Use of symmetry, geometry, and proportion.
  • Grandeur achieved through simplicity.
  • Less or no use of towers and more use of domes.
  • Interiors planned according to Roman architectural principles.
• Walls:
  • Constructed of ashlar masonry.
  • Stucco or plaster were often used as facing materials.
  • Angles of buildings were built in unsmoothed stone.
  • Gable ends of churches and buildings were made as pediments with a low pitch.
• Openings:
  • Door and window openings are semi-circular or square-headed, constructed according to climate.
  • Southern Europe (hot climate) - Openings were small.
  • Northern Europe (dull climate) - Openings were large.
  • Classic system of molded architrave as revived.
• Roofing and Columns:
  • Simple Roman Vaults without ribs.
  • Domes have internal soffit and ceiling painted in Frescoes.
  • Roman classic order of columns was revived.
  • The shafts of columns were fluted spirally.
  • Rusticated and ornamented with foliage and fruits.

Architectural Character of Renaissance Architecture

• Symmetry
• Proportion
• Geometry

Renaissance Architects

• Leon Battista Alberti
  • Helped promote architecture from an artisan's trade to a profession.
  • Emphasized intellectual requirements such as mathematics, geometry, and philosophy.
  • Wrote the book "De Re Aedificatoria," which influenced the revival of Roman style.
  • Other works include Santa Maria Novella in Florence and Sant'Andrea in Mantua.
  • He also renovated the medieval churches of Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce.
• Giuliano da Sangallo
  • Designed Palazzo Gondi.
  • Was a prominent figure during the early Renaissance.
  • Contributed significantly to the development of architectural and artistic styles of the time.

Chateaus

• A chateau is a French word that translates to "castle" or "palace" in English.
• In France, it is often used to refer to large, stately country houses or estates, especially those with historic or cultural significance.
• Chateaus typically feature elegant architecture, large estates or gardens, and historical or cultural importance.

Chateau de Chambord

• Chateau de Chambord is a prominent example of a chateau.

Elizabethan Architecture (1558 to 1603 AD)

• Developed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
• Established the Renaissance style in England, following Tudor architecture.
• This architecture is a transition style with Gothic features and Renaissance details.
• Key features:
  • Timber Framing
  • Gables
  • Bay Windows
  • Tall, Slim Chimneys
  • Leaded Glass Windows
  • Ornamentation
  • Symmetry and Proportion
  • Large Halls

Jacobean Architecture (1603 to 1625 AD)

• Developed during the reign of King James I.
• This style followed the Elizabethan era.
• It is a transitional style characterized by a blend of Renaissance, Baroque, and Tudor architectural influences.
• Key features:
  • Symmetry
  • Use of Brick and Stone
  • Elevation
  • Mullioned and Transomed Windows
  • Ornamentation
  • Dutch Influence
  • Proportions

Stuart Architecture

• Developed during the reigns of the Stuart monarchs, starting with James I in 1603 and ending with Queen Anne in 1714.
• It transitioned from Elizabethan and Jacobean styles to a more restrained and classical approach influenced by continental Europe.
• Key features:
  • Classical Influences
  • Red Bricks
  • Symmetry and Proportion
  • Palladian Architecture
  • Sash Windows
  • Decorative Elements
  • Grand Estates
  • Influenced by Italian Renaissance (Inigo Jones)
  • Influenced by French Renaissance (Christopher Wren)

Georgian Architecture

• Predominant in England during the reigns of the first four King Georges (from 1714 to 1830).
• Shifted from Baroque and Rococo styles to a more restrained and classical approach.