Architectural History: Renaissance to 19th-Century Europe

Flashcards testing knowledge of key architectural periods, movements, buildings, and architects from the Renaissance through 19th-century Europe.

What does the word 'Renaissance' mean, and where and when did the movement begin?

Renaissance means 'rebirth' (referring to the revival of Classical Greek and Roman ideas). It began in Florence, Italy, and lasted from the 14th to the 17th century.

What is Planar Classicism in Renaissance architecture?

It is the decoration of flat walls with Classical elements (columns, pilasters, pediments, arches) emphasizing symmetry and proportion, contrasting with the curved/sculpted walls of the Baroque era.

What are the three main phases of Renaissance architecture and their date ranges?

Early Renaissance (c. 1400–1485), High Renaissance (c. 1486–1520), and Late Renaissance / Mannerism (c. 1525–1600).

How are the five Classical Orders distinguished from simplest to most complex in the transcript?

Tuscan (simplest), Doric (simple, strong), Ionic (scrolls/volutes), Corinthian (acanthus leaves), and Composite (combination of Ionic + Corinthian).

What are the three terms of the Vitruvian Triad and their meanings?

FIRMITAS (strength/durability), UTILITAS (usefulness/function), and VENUSTAS (beauty).

Which building designed by Filippo Brunelleschi is often considered the first Renaissance building?

The Foundling Hospital.

Who authored De Re Aedificatoria and designed Palazzo Rucellai?

Leon Battista Alberti.

Which building by Donato Bramante introduced the High Renaissance style to Rome?

The Tempietto.

What key architectural works and transitions is Michelangelo known for in Renaissance architecture?

He designed St. Peter's Dome and the Laurentian Library, and helped transition Renaissance architecture into Mannerism/Baroque by breaking Classical rules.

What are the distinguishing features of Andrea Palladio's Villa Rotonda?

It features 4 identical porticoes and a central dome.

What was the chronological progression of main architects and plan changes for St. Peter's Basilica?

Bramante (Greek Cross plan) -> Raphael (Latin Cross) -> Peruzzi (Greek Cross) -> Michelangelo (Greek Cross + major dome) -> Maderno (Latin Cross + façade) -> Bernini (Piazza + colonnades).

What was the Counter-Reformation and how did it affect architecture?

It was the Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation aimed at bringing people back to Catholicism, which encouraged dramatic, emotional church architecture.

What is chiaroscuro in Baroque architecture and art?

The contrast of light and dark used to create a dramatic or three-dimensional effect.

What building served as the prototype/archetype for the Jesuit style of architecture, and who designed it?

The Church of the Gesù, designed by Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola.

Which church façade by Carlo Maderno is considered the 'first truly Baroque façade'?

Santa Susanna.

How do the architectural approaches of Bernini and Borromini differ?

Bernini emphasized sculpture and drama (e.g., St. Peter's Baldachin and colonnades), whereas Borromini was a master of curved-wall architecture using convex and concave curves (e.g., San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane).

What are the characteristics of Churrigueresque architecture?

It is Spanish Ultra-Baroque architecture featuring extreme surface ornament, Solomonic columns, and the Composite Order.

How does Rococo architecture differ from Baroque architecture?

Baroque is grand, dramatic, heavy, and religious/royal; Rococo (18th-century France) is light, playful, intimate, pastel-colored, asymmetrical, mostly secular/interior-focused, and uses nature-inspired motifs.

What is a Mansard roof?

A roof with two slopes on each side, where the lower slope is steeper; named after François Mansart.

What are the 7 regional styles of American Colonial architecture listed in the notes?

Spanish, New England, Dutch, Swedish, Pennsylvania, French, and Southern.

What are the key characteristics of Federal Style architecture?

Flourishing post-independence until c. 1815, it was delicate and refined with fewer columns/pilasters, plainer surfaces, large windows, and influence from Robert Adam.

Which ancient structures directly influenced Thomas Jefferson's designs for the Virginia State Capitol and the UVA Rotunda?

The Virginia State Capitol was inspired by the Maison Carrée, and the UVA Rotunda was inspired by the Pantheon.

What were the respective roles of William Thornton and Benjamin Henry Latrobe in the U.S. Capitol?

William Thornton created the original U.S. Capitol plan (with no formal training), while Benjamin Henry Latrobe designed Capitol interiors (as one of the first formally trained professional architects in the U.S.).

Who designed the cast-iron dome of the U.S. Capitol?

Thomas U. Walter.

Who was known as the 'Dean of American Architecture' and designed the Statue of Liberty pedestal?

Richard Morris Hunt.

What was the 'Big Idea' regarding structure and style during the Industrial Revolution?

'Structure ran ahead of style' — engineers developed new structural possibilities while architects often continued using historical styles.

How do cast iron, wrought iron, and steel differ structurally?

Cast iron is strong in compression but brittle in tension; wrought iron is strong in tension; steel is very strong relative to weight, enabling larger spans and lighter structures.

What was the first cast-iron bridge, when was it built, and who designed it?

The Iron Bridge, built 1777–79 by Abraham Darby and Thomas Pritchard.

Who designed the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition of 1851, and what was special about its construction?

Joseph Paxton designed it using iron, glass, and prefabricated parts.

What is the difference between Historicism and Eclecticism in 19th-century European architecture?

Historicism is the practice of using specific styles from the past, whereas Eclecticism is combining features from different styles to create a new design.

How do the façades of King's Cross and St. Pancras railway stations differ in relation to their train sheds?

King's Cross (Lewis Cubitt) has a façade that clearly shows its two large railway sheds, whereas St. Pancras (George Gilbert Scott) places a Gothic hotel directly in front of its railway shed.

How do Charles Barry's designs for the Travellers' Club and Reform Club differ in entrance layout?

The Travellers' Club has its entrance at the end, while the Reform Club features a central entrance.

How do Truro Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral differ in style and materials?

Truro Cathedral (J. L. Pearson) is Gothic and built of granite with lancet windows; Westminster Cathedral (J. F. Bentley) is Byzantine and built of red brick with stone bands and pendentive domes.

Which landmark on Montmartre features white domes influenced by Byzantine architecture, and who was its architect?

Sacré-Cœur, designed by Paul Abadie.