RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE

Location: Began in Italy and spread throughout Western Europe.

Time Period: 1400 – 1600 A.D.

Common types of buildings: Cathedrals – A large church.

Villa – A spacious country home of the wealthy and powerful.

Palazzo – The city homes/townhouse of the wealthy and powerful.

Notable buildings: Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise; Palazzo Medici-Riccardi.

Significant idea: Rebirth: Knowledge; Individuals; Public Space.

The literal meaning of Renaissance is rebirth. There was a great thrust for knowledge and to find solutions to problems. For example, linear perspective was developed during this time period that produced more realistic works. Artists are no longer just considered artisans or craftsman, but are now recognized for their individual talents. During the Renaissance period the idea of public space came forth where civic pride and organization would be organized on a citywide scale.

Common media: Masonry, brick, stone

Distinguishing Features:

Circular plan: The cathedrals were no longer built on the Gothic cross shape

plan, but now use the circle. Believing that ancient

mathematicians equated circles with geometric perfection,

architects used the circle to represent the perfection of God.

Geometric: The buildings were often square or rectangular in shape with the

facades being relatively flat. They often had 3 stories with square

windows on the lower floor and rounded ones at the top.

Rustication: To give a rustic appearance by roughening the surface and

beveling the edges of the stones to emphasize the joints

between them.

Symmetry: A type of balance where one side mirrors the other. Symmetry

was most noted in the early portion of the Renaissance period.

Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise are located on the east side of the Baptistery at the Florence Cathedral. They are made of cast bronze and took 27 years to complete. The 10 panels depict Old Testament scenes. Some of the designs show the influence of perspective.

The Gates of Paradise by Ghiberti. Panel detail from the Gates of Paradise

http://www.mega.it/eng/egui/monu/bo.htm

This image is a detail of a bifiori window at the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi.

http://www.lib.virginia.edu/dic/colls/arh102/screen/nineW13.jpg

This is a facade detail of the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi. This urban palace in central Florence rises about 70 feet above the ground. Take note of the emphasized rustication (rough, beveled stone to emphasize the joints) on the lowest level. This roughness decreases on each succeeding level and becomes almost smooth on the top level.

http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/medici/medici.html

Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, 1444, Italy

Palazzo Farnese is located in Rome, Italy. Michelangelo redesigned this entrance.

The image below is another view of the Palazzo (a townhouse of the wealthy and powerful).

http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/farnese/farnese.html

Villa Farnesina in Rome, Italy. 1509 - 1511

http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/farnesina/whole.jpg