MAN AND UNIVERSAL SELF.docx

MAN AND UNIVERSAL SELF: ARCHITECTURE IN THE RENAISSANCE

PERIOD15TH - 18TH CENTURY

RENAISSANCE

- Also known as “Rebirth” or “Revival” of the Roman Classical Arts

- The architecture of the curve lines

Florence, Italy – birth place of Renaissance Architecture

SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STYLE

1. Reintroduction of the five classical Roman Orders of Architecture

Standardized by Renaissance architects such as Palladio, Vignola,

Scamozziand Chambers

a. Doric

b. Ionic

c. Corinthian

d. Composite

e. Tuscan

2. Use of the rusticated masonry

3. Parapets are usually with balusters

4. Dome on a drum

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

Dignity and Formality shown through “symmetry”

PERIODS OF DEVELOPMENT OF RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE IN EUROPE

A. IN ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

1. Early Period – Transition Period

2. High Renaissance or Proto-Baroque Period

3. Baroque Period

a. Neo-Classical or Antiquarian Phase

B. IN FRENCH RENAISSANCE

1. Early Period

2. Classical Period

3. Late Period

C. IN GERMAN RENAISSANCE

1. Early Renaissance

2. Proto-Baroque Period

3. Baroque Period

4. Rococo Period

5. Antiquarian Period

D. IN ENGLISH RENAISSANCE

1. Early Period

a. Elizabethan Period

b. Jacobean Period

2. Late Period

a. Stuart Architecture

1. Inigo Jones Phase

2. Sir Christopher Wren’s Phase

b. Georgian Architecture

1. Anglo-Palladian Phase

2. Antiquarian Phase

RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE IN ITALY 15TH -19TH CENTURY

A. GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE

-Italy is divided into three centers of development:

Florence – influence by Bramante

Rome – central position made use of existing classical buildings. It

followsold rules.

Venice – influence by Andrea Palladio

B. GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE

Florence – Block of stones and marbles

Rome – Travertine, marble and architectural fragments

Venice – Stone, marble, brick and wood

C. CLIMATIC INFLUENCE

Florence

1. Bright and sunny – small windows

2. Structure dictated upon by climate cortile, colonnade, low pitched roof

Venice – maritime position resulted in contact with other people

1. Extreme summer heat temperature by sea breeze resulted in the

use ofbelvedene (deck) and balcony

2. Extreme cold season required interior eating; chimney stack shown inside

Rome - Same effect

D. RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE

Florence – Religion reflected in architecture through the teaching of

Savonarola,a Dominican Friar

Rome – Religion, political struggle affected church development

- Jesuits Order constructed preaching church and colleges

- Religion tolerance reflected in variation of Architecture

Venice – resisted ecclesiastical controls and maintained a semi-

independence ofthe Popes

E. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE

Florence

1. Medici family was the patron of artists Brunelleschi, Michellozzo,

Lippi, Donatello, Massaccio

2. Community rivalry resulted in fortification

Rome

1. Roman government – more stable therefore,

minimizing castleeffect

2. Eminent artist exerted their personalities on buildings

3. Printing press and architectural school were responsible

forpropagation of Renaissance throughout Europe

Venice

1. National prosperity accumulated from successful training (reflected in

magnificent palace)

F. HISTORICAL INFLUENCE

Great inventions contributed to the general upheaval of this period;

1. Gunpowder – changed the character of warfare

2. Mariner’s compass – led to the discovery of the Cape of Good

Hope by Diaz in 1487 and of America by Christopher Columbus in

1492

3. Printing by movable types – contributed greatly to the circulation of

ideas, and underlay the rapid expansion of humanist studies,

vernacular literature and from 1520, the protestant reformation

- Petrarch (1303-1374) was the first great literary figure

among thehumanists.

- Among the Greek and Roman literature brought to light was the

“Treatiseon Architecture” by Vitruvius that was first issued at

Rome in 1486 and translated into Italian in 1521.

G. ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

Three Main Partsof Renaissance in Italy

1. Early Period – Transition Period from Gothic - 15th century ;

Famous architect is Filippo Brunelleschi

2. High Renaissance or Proto-Baroque Period – mannerist

phase - 16thcentury; famous architect is Bartolomeo Ammanati

3. Baroque Period – Neo-Classical or Antiquarian Phase - 17th

and early18th century; best known architect is Bartolome

Bianco

Baroque – Referred to as the architecture of curve line; also covers interior decoration

Characteristic Features

1. Columns and twisted shafts

2. Curved and broken pediment

3. Huge wavy scroll

Antiquarian – The phase in Western European Renaissance Architecture, 1750-

1830,when renewed inspiration was sought from Ancient Greek and Roman

Architecture

Mannerists – A term coined to describe the characteristics of the output of

Italian Renaissance Architects of the period 1530-1600. This is characterized

by unconventional use of classical elements

- A period wherein designs were conceived in a non-Roman way

ARCHITECTS AND THEIR WORKS

Florence

1. Filipo Brunelleschi (1377-1448) – famous architect in the Early

Renaissance o fFlorence

Dome of Florence Cathedral – 138 1⁄2 feet diameter raised on

drum, with circular windows for interior lighting, inner and outer

shell construction withpanels of brick done without centering

San Lorenzo, Florence – Basilican plan, Corinthian column and

entablature in thenave arcade

San Spiritu, Florence – Originally Basilican later converted into Latin cross by

addition of wide transepts

Palazzo Pitti, Florence – second largest palace in Italy, symmetrically

planned,central cortile by Amanati, façade of astylar treatment

Palazzo Quaratesi, Florence – Rusticated walls and windows with central

shaftand sub-arches recalling Gothic tracery

2. Alberti (1404-1472)

Palazzo Rucellai, Florence – first Renaissance building with

superimposedpilasters, façade lack dignity due to emission of crowning

cornice

San Andres, Mantua – prototype of many Renaissance churches,

entranceportico patterned after Roman Triumphal Arch

3. Michelozzo (1407-1473)

Palazzo Riccardi – best known work of Michelozzo, plan has a cortile

with grand stair leading to the piano nobile, exterior of astylar style,

effective use of graduated rustication, semi-circular arches enclosing

pedimented windows, plainashlar masonry for upper storey, bold cornice

4. Il Cronaco (1454-1508)

Palazzo Strozzi, Florence – begun by da Majano, completed by

Cronaco, mainfeature central cortile with arches, stairs, rusticated front,

individual string courses for each floor level.

5. Filarete – (1396-1465) Sculptor – Architecture

Ospidale, Magiore, Milan – municipal hospital with façade facing

central cortileof delicate transitional details, North façade by Bramante,

continued by Solari, completed by Ricchini

6. Borgogne – (1455-1524)

Certoza, Pavia – façade by Borgogne was an addition to an existing Gothic

building, therefore sized with Classic elements

7. Alessi – (1500 – 1572) Pupil of Michaelangelo

Palazzo Sauili, Genoa – brick faced with stucco, famous for its vestibules,

court,yards, stair flights, terraces and hanging gardens

8. Lurago – follower of Alessi

Palazzo Municipio, Genoa – entrance leads into vestibule and cortile

with pianonobile beyond. Wider façade due to added loggia.

9. Bartolommeo

Bianco Palazzo

Marcello - Durazzo

ROME

1. Bramante – (1444-1514)

Palazzo Della Cancelleria, Rome – Done in conjunction with church of

San Lorenzo in Damasco, cortile with two storey arcades, good proportion,

projectedand bay treatment.

Tempietto in San Pietro, Montario, Rome – Perfect structure done in

circulartemple design. Interior of Doric peristyle, drum pierced by

windows and shell beaded niches.

2. Baldassare Peruzzi (1481-

1536) Palazzo Pietro

Massimi, Rome Villa

Parnesina, Rome

3. Antonio da Sangallo, the younger (1485-1586)

Palazzo Farnese, Rome – the grandest palace of the period.

Rectangular plan composed of main entrance, vestibule, side

colonnades, arcaded collonandes, cortile, piano nobile with staircase,

apartments, garden, loggia

4. Raphael (1483-1520) – painter, nephew and pupil of Bramante

Palazzo Pandolfini, Florence – illusion of strength attained by setting

off anglerustification from plain ashlar wall. Feature is Florentine cornice

in the triangularand segmental pediments.

5. Guilo Romano – (1492-1546) pupil of Raphael

Palazzo Del Te, Mantua – quadrangular plan composed of large salons,

central court, vegetable garden

6. Giacomo Barozzi Da Vignola – (1507-1573)

Villa of Pope Julius, Rome – straight frontage, semi-circular cortile,

formal garden, sunken grotto, summer rooms and fountain court

Palazzo Farnese, Coprarale – plan rectangular pentagon with circular

internalcourt

Cesu Church, Rome – nave with side chapels instead of aisles. Façade center of

superimposed orders while aisle roof represented by large scroll brackets

7. Michaelangelo (1474-1564) Sculptor, painter, architect

The Capitol, Rome – composed of three buildings such as Palazzo dei

Conservatori, Palazzo del Senatore and Capitalline Museum which became

hismost successful civic works

8. Domencio Fontana – (1543-1607)

Palazzo del Laterano, Rome

9. Carlo Maderna – (1556 – 1629)

Palazzo Barberini –

10. Giovanni Bernini (1589-1680) Baroque

architectColonnaded Piazza of St. Peter’s

Cathedral

VENICE

1. Andrea Palladio - (1518-1580) Greatest Renaissance Architect

Basilica at Vicenzo – introduction of so called Palladian Motif (special

groupingand combination of columns and arcades

Villa Capra, Vicenza – also known as the Rotunda

San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice – cruciform plan with special transepts,

pedimented façade dome turrets, campanilt

2. Pietro Lombardo –

(1435-1515)Palazzo

Vendramini, Venice

S. Maria dei Miracoli, Venice – aisleless nave and choir located over

sacristy;marble facing on all walls

3. Jacopo Sansovino (1486-1570) Library of St. Mark,

VenicePalazzo Corner della Ca’Grande, Venice

4. Sanichelli – (1484-1559) – designer of new fortifications

Palazzo Grimane,

Venice Palazzo

Pompeii, Verona

Palazzo

Bevilaqua

5. Fra Giacondo (1435-1515) – associated with

SanichelliPalazzo Del Consiglo, Verona

6. Longhena (1604-1675) – Roman architect with main practice in Venice

S. Maria della Salute, Venice

ARCHITECTURAL EXAMPLES

1. Churches

St. Peter Basilica – most important building in Italian Renaissance; largest church

in theworld

Famous Architects and Builders of St. Peter Basilica

a. Donato Bramante – the first Roman Renaissance

Architect,designed the original plan (Greek Cross)

b. Guiliano da Sangallo – continued the works left by

Bramante whodied at the early stage of construction

c. Fra Giacondo

d. Raphael (Rafaello Sanzio) – proposed a Latin Cross Plan

e. Baldassare Peruzzi – changed the plan of Raphael

back to theGreek Cross Plan

f. Antonio da Sangallo – younger brother of Guiliano, altered

the planof Peruzzi

- designed the extension of the lofty campanile and

elaboratedCentral Dome

g. Michaelangelo Buonarrotti – introduced again the

Greek CrossPlan and strengthened the piers of the dome

- redesign the surroundings

- commenced the construction of the Greek Dome h.

Giacomo della Porta

i. Domenico Fontana – supervised the completion of the

central domeof Michaelangelo

j. Giacomo Barrozi da Vignola – added only side domes / copulas

k. Carlo Maderna – lengthened the nave to form a Latin

Cross andadded a gigantic façade

l. Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini – designed the entrance Piazza

with 284Ionic Columns and the Tuscan collonade

Medici Chapel, Florence - by Michaelangelo Buonarrotti

S. Lorenzo, Florence – by Filippo Brunelleschi, the famous architect in Florence

S. Maria della Cancelleria, Rome – by Donato Bramante, the famous

architectin Rome

Basilica Vicenza, Venice – by Andrea Palladio, the famous architect in Venice

2. Palaces – also termed as “Palais”

Characteristics of Palaces a.

Absence of pilasters

b. Boldly projecting cornice

c. Column arcades

Vatican Palace, Rome – the largest palace in Italy by Donato Bramante

Palazzo Ricardi, Florence - by Michelozzo Michellozzi

Palazzo Farnese, Rome – grandest palace of the period by Sangallo; Top

storeyadded by Michaelangelo Bounarrotti

Palazzo Pitti, Florence – second largest palace in Italy by Fillipo Bruneleschi

TERMINOLOGIES

Rustication – a method of forming stone work with roughened surface and

recessedjoints

Cortile – Italian name for internal court surrounded by an arcade

Astylar – a treatment of façade without column

Piano Nobile – several steps going up and three steps going down before the

principalflooring of an Italian palace

Pietra Serena – a blue grey stone of fine quality

Pietra Forte – a brown stone more suitable of fine quality

Cantoria – a singer’s gallery or “choir”