AES305-Lecture Notes 5-late Renaissance-Palladio-

Andrea Palladio and Late Renaissance Architecture-Italy

Introduction to Andrea Palladio

• Born: 1508 in Padua, Italy (Veneto Region)

• Career center: Vicenza, Italy; gained international renown through his architecture and writings.

• Training: Began as a mason, later studied ancient buildings in Rome.

• Major Publication: 1554 - Le antichità di Roma (The Antiquities of Rome).

Influence of Palladio's Writings

• Increased popularity among architects due to practical focus; contrasted with Alberti's theoretical approach.

• Palladio's notable work: The Four Books on Architecture (1570)

  • Most systematic of Renaissance architects' writings.

  • Fundamental for 17th- and 18th-century French and English architecture.

Comparative Treatises

1. Alberti - Ten Books on Architecture (1452)

   • Comprehensive study of architecture without drawings.

   • Discussed building types and sourcing materials.

2. Serlio - Five Books on Architecture (1537)

   • Included numerous drawings.

   • Demonstrated classical systems for a variety of building plans.

3. Palladio - Four Books on Architecture (1570)

   • Emphasis on systematic ground plans correlated with building sections and elevations.

   • More restrictive than Serlio but offered creative designs without uniformity.

Palladio's Architectural Philosophy

• Architecture governed by reason and classical rules; stressed the importance of proportion.

• Unlike Alberti, Palladio strictly adhered to his theoretical ideals in practice.

• Integration of buildings within their contexts, with courtyards and perimeter walls playing a significant role.

Key Architectural Works

1. San Giorgio Maggiore

   • Commissioned in 1565.

   • Reflects Palladio’s belief in combining antiquity's ideals with functional church designs.

   • Features: Centralized main body, basilican plan, and elaborate façade using ancient architectural language (Colossal and Corinthian orders).

Palladio's Villas

• Villas catered to Venetian farming families, emphasizing functionality and dignity.

• Distinctive examples include:

  • Villa Barbaro (1549)

  • Villa Foscari (La Malcontenta, 1560)

  • Villa Emo (1599)

• Characteristics of Palladio's Villas:

  • Symmetrical and simple layouts governed by proportions.

  • Often elevated with temple-front facades leading to grand halls.

Villa Foscari

• Commissioned in 1550; serves as a model for European palaces, villas, and houses.

• Inner plan: Large cruciform hall extending front to back; prominent temple front facing the Brenta River.

Rotunda Design

• Definition: A circular domed building featuring a large circular space, often topped by a dome (e.g., Pantheon in Rome).

Villa Rotonda

• Designed for ecclesiastical dignitary Paolo Almerico in 1566.

• Notable for its symmetrical layout and central rotunda with atrium open to the sky.

• Each façade has a temple front; primarily constructed from brick with minimal stone use.

• Elevated on an artificial terrace with basements ingeniously disguised by stairs.

Summary

• Andrea Palladio's architectural innovations significantly influenced not only Italian architecture but also Western architecture as a whole, blending classical principles with practical design, especially through his renowned treatises and iconic villa designs.