LARC 34103-001 - HISTORY LANDSCAPE ARCH I_Unit 3

17th Century: Baroque Italy, Baroque France, Baroque England and Netherlands, Colonial Americas, Safavid Iran, Mughal India, Early Modern Japan,

Baroque

• Not a clean transition from the previous movement, continuation of all things renaissance

style of art and architecture developed in Europe from the early 17th to mid-18th century, emphasizing dramatic effect and typified by bold, curving forms, elaborate ornamentation, and overall balance of disparate parts

The redesign of Rome according to the plan of Pope Sixtus V, 1585

• Counter reformation, catholic church trying to reestablish itself as a place of power = make Rome an important destination.

• Pope creates strategy for new wide avenues, cutting through the preexisting organic fabric. These new avenues connect main spaces.

• Where the avenues connect is the location of new grand piazzas.

• Reestablish aqueducts, bringing water into city, fountains in the piazzas

Use of Obelisks in the redesign of Rome

• Taking ancient Egyptian religious monument, turning it into a Christian/catholic monument by topping them with crosses.

• These obelisks would be placed in the in the new design piazzas.

Piazza di San Pietro, Vatican City (Rome) – 1585, 1656 (Bernini)

• “The Maternal arms of Mother Church”- Bernini = large, monumental space that is supposed to make you feel small = arms welcoming in Pilgrams

• obelisk topped with symbol of the catholic church

• Different saints around the colonnade, in similar style to classical.

Piazza del Popolo, Rome – 1589, 1667, 1936

• Curving forms that are signature of the baroque, later additions in spirit of the baroque.

• Obelisk in center

• choice of three avenues that cut through the cities = as these forms go out, they lead to important pilgrimage churches

• Two churches at the goose foot.

trivio

three radiating avenues, adapted by France and called the patte d’oie, or goose foot

• This can be seen in Piazza del Popolo, Rome

Piazza Navona, Rome – 16^th & 17^th c.

• Used to be a stadium, the layout of this is still visible in the piazza

• divided through the center obelisk and the fountains at the ends. Much more human scale.

• Comparison with Chinese imperial cities ideals

Piazza Navona, Rome – 16^th & 17^th c. Fountains

• Obelisk: - divine right of the catholic church and the power of God. (triumph of the Catholic church).

• Fountain of the Four Rivers (representing the Four continents known during the renaissance, one river per continent - Connected to obelisk. Earthly realm, with the obelisk above representing heavenly power.

• Fountain of Neptune

Spanish Steps Rome - 1723

• Urn shaped steps - celebratory piazza

• A Piazza, but is different because it is all about theatre, urban life as the play

Trevi Fountain, Rome – 1732 - 1760

• Celebration of the Pope bringing water back into the city

• An architectural grotto with classical themes, used in a baroque way

• Stadium seating, the fountain being the theatre