History of Interior Design II
4. Renaissance Architecture Tutor : Amal Shah Spring 2021 Faculty of Design, CEPT University
Renaissance Renaissance, literally means “rebirth,�. The Renaissance was a period of incredible artistic production from the late 14th century to the early 16th century, centered mainly in Italy. One of the major characteristics was the reinvigoration of Classical forms, meaning the artistic styles of ancient Greece and Rome. Whereas the Medieval period concentrated on spiritual values. Renaissance always generated new syntheses from the knowledge that came from study of ancient classicism. The Renaissance also witnessed the discovery and exploration of new continents (India and America). It also saw the invention or application of such potentially powerful innovations as paper, printing, the compass, and gunpowder.
Origin of Renaissance Style: Geographical Landscape
During the Middle Ages, a period that took place between the fall of ancient Rome in 476 A.D. and the beginning of the 14th century, Europeans made few advances in science and art and that marked the origin of Renaissance. At the time of renaissance, Italy was an area made up of small cities and not an actual country. Renaissance originated in central Italy aand spreaded throughout the Europe.
Origin of Renaissance Style: Socio-Political Landscape In the evolution, there were multiple social and political factors that let to the origin of Renaissance: Decline of Feudalism: The feudal system was opposed to progress. The feudal lords could not increase the rents from their subordinates and had to borrow money to maintain themselves. They had to sell off their lands to pay their debts. This led to breakup of feudalism. Spread of Education and spirit of enquiry. The Crusades: It was during this time that Christians studied the Philosophies of Plato and Aristotle. It gave way to modern thinking. Capture of Constantinople by the Turks. It is said that the fall of Constantinople is a blessing in disguise as many progressive ideas spread in Europe and brought about changes in all spheres of human life. Specific aspects of Italian society also promoted new values such as individualism. These social factors included ‘new rulers’, social mobility, trade, and a society that was not bound by traditional values. Above all, the increasing secularism of the times allowed people in the Renaissance to conceive a new way of living and even a new world.
Decline of Feudalism in Europe
Major inuences on Renaissance Architecture
Proportions: Renaissance architects found a harmony between human proportions and buildings. This concern for proportion resulted in clear, easily comprehended space and mass, which distinguishes the Renaissance style from the more complex Gothic.
Roman Renaissance architects derived their main designs and inspirations from Roman and Greek classical models of colonnades. During the Renaissance, the architects were also inspired by the highly symmetrical and carefully proportioned buildings of Classical Greece and Rome.
Types of Renaissance Architecture Early Renaissance (1400-1500)
Palazzo Rucellai alberti
The principal members of the first generation of Renaissance artists--DONATELLO in sculpture, Filippo BRUNELLESCHI in architecture, and MASACCIO in painting--shared many important characteristics.Rational inquiry was believed to be the key to success; therefore, efforts were made to discover the correct laws of proportion for architecture and for the representation of the human body and to systematize the rendering of pictorial space
High Renaissance (1490-1527)
St. Peter’s Basilica
The essential characteristic of High Renaissance art was its unity--a balance achieved as a matter of intuition, beyond the reach of rational knowledge or technical skill--the High Renaissance style was destined to break up as soon as emphasis was shifted to favor any one element in the composition.
Late Renaissance (1530-1600)
Teatro Olimpico, Vicenza
Mannerism encompasses a variety of approaches influenced by, and reacting to, the harmonious ideals associated with artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and early Michelangelo. Mannerism exaggerates proportions, balance, often resulting in compositions that are asymmetrical or unnaturally elegant
Features of Renaissance: The Ideal of Geometry in Organisation & Composition
Elevation of the façade of S. Andrea. The façade elevation of this church fits into a square. The square is then divided in four, both horizontally and vertically, creating sixteen squares. Elements are in proportion of 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 6:1, and 5:6.
Plans of the Villa Foscari,, Italy, c. 1558. The plan uses a rectangle of 11:16 proportion. It is then subdivided in proportions of 4, 4, 3 from front to back and 4, 2, 4, 2, 4 from side to side. On this grid, rooms are laid out in proportions of 6:4, 4:4, 3:4, and 2:3. These ratios correspond to harmonic musical intervals of unison, octave, third, fourth, and fifth.
Features of Renaissance: The Ideal of Geometry and the Circle One of the fundamental beliefs of ancient Greek and Roman artists was that beauty was derived from ideal, geometric ratios and proportions. This meant that Classical art and architecture were often built around ideal geometric shapes, an idea that Renaissance artists heavily picked up on. The most basic of these shapes, and in many ways the most important, is the circle.
The Renaissance was a time of intense religious fervor, so many new churches were built, and to create a sense of harmony, balance, and logic, architects looked to the circle.
Development of the Palazzo
The homes of powerful and affluent citizens no longer needed to be fortified castles. Instead, the palace (Palazzo) in towns and the villa in the country developed as residences offering considerable comfort and beauty. The typical palazzo in a town came to be three or four (or more) stories in height. The ground floor was devoted to entrance spaces, services, stables, and storage. The level above—the Piano nobile— provided the large and richly decorated salons for formal life. The style of the Renaissance interior is strongly influenced by the new devotion to classical precedents. Symmetry is a dominant concern. In general, walls are smooth and simple, often neutral in color or painted in patterns suggestive of wallpaper. Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
Palazzo Farnese, Rome
Significant Examples : Villa Rotonda, Vicenza by Andrea Palladio The design reflected the humanist values of Renaissance architecture. In order for each room to have some sun, the design was rotated 45 degrees from each cardinal point of the compass. Each of the four porticos has pediments graced by statues of classical deities. The pediments were each supported by six Ionic columns. Each portico was flanked by a single window. It is a building that consciously recalls ancient Roman classical models La Rotonda has a perennial quality to it; Palladio’s use of classical elements emphasizes a universal architectural language.
Classical Inuence on Renaissance Architecture
SigniďŹ cant Examples : Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore by Brunelleschi
One of the most signiďŹ cant architectural achievements of the entire Renaissance was the construction, by Filippo Brunelleschi, of the dome over the Florence Cathedral. The dome made use of balance and harmony between each of its parts. Each architectural element contributes to the stability of the dome as it stands without supporting structures.
Brunelleschi’s Impact on Art & Architecture : Linear Perspective Method Brunelleschi observed that with a fixed single point of view, parallel lines appear to converge at a single point in the distance. Brunelleschi applied a single vanishing point to a canvas, and discovered a method for calculating depth. He rediscovered this from ancient Greek and Rome architecture.
By using the optical and geometric principles upon which Brunelleschi’s perspective devices were based, the artists of his generation were able to produce works of astonishing realism. On two-dimensional surfaces they were able to create extraordinary illusions of a three-dimensional space and tangible objects, so that the work of art appeared to be either an extension of the real world or a mirror of nature.
Florence Baptistry by Brunelleschi
Renaissance Art and Artists : Rafael
Sistine Madonna, 1512-1513. Oil on canvas, 269.5 x 201 cm.
The School of Athens, is one of the most famous frescoes by the Italian Renaissance artist Raphael. It represents the classical spirit of the Renaissance.
Renaissance Art and Artists : Leonardo da Vinci
The Last Supper
Vitruvias Man
The Virgin of the Rocks, 1483–86
Mona Lisa, sfumato Technique
Renaissance Art and Artists : the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo
Application of Acoustics Have mercy upon me, O God: after Thy great goodness. According to the multitude of Thy mercies, do away mine offences. Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me. It was composed during the reign of Pope Urban VIII, probably during the 1630s, for the exclusive use of the Sistine Chapel
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Renaissance Art and Artists
Renaissance Furniture Renaissance furniture was first produced in Italy during the 15th century. Trade brought wealth to Italy, and the growing bourgeoisie was able to afford better and bigger housing. Also, they significantly increased the demand for high-quality furniture.
The Italian style of furniture also spread to other parts of Europe. Craftsmen from other countries traveled to Italy to learn its form and techniques, and some Italian makers were invited to other European nations by the local courts. In many places, the designs were adapted to better suit the local taste and requirements.
Renaissance Furniture Furniture was also seen as a symbol of social status. Items like beds were an important symbol of wealth because they were expensive, and only the richest families could aord to have them. Canopy beds with four pillars became popular among the wealthy.
Furniture had a restrained character with simple designs and a moderate ornamentation. The decoration consisted mostly of carved details created on the surface of the wood. The designs often had some architectonic elements from the classical world like columns, pediments, and cornices.
Unique Characteristics of Renaissance Architecture Rebirth of Classical Architecture: Renaissance architecture marked a rebirth of Classical culture, using many ancient Roman forms, including the column and round arch, the tunnel vault, and the dome. Renaissance architects studied the theory and practice of their Roman predecessors. They read the treatise "On Architecture" by Roman architect Vitruvius and examined ancient ruins in Italy, France, and Spain to develop their style. Classical antiquity and Renaissance architecture used order, a system of traditional architectural elements, as the basis for design. Five orders were used during the Renaissance: the Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite. The architects of the early Renaissance used the ornate Corinthian order the most, while the simple and strong Doric was more prevalent during the High Renaissance.
Unique Characteristics of Renaissance Architecture Plan:
Facade:
The plans of Renaissance buildings have a square, symmetrical appearance in which proportions are usually based on a module. Within a church, the module is often the width of an aisle. The need to integrate the design of the plan with the faรงade was introduced as an issue in the work of Filippo Brunelleschi, but he was never able to carry this aspect of his work into fruition.
Faรงades are symmetrical around their vertical axis. Church faรงades are generally surmounted by a pediment and organised by a system of pilasters, arches and entablatures. The columns and windows show a progression towards the centre.
Unique Characteristics of Renaissance Architecture Arches:
Vaults:
Arches are semi-circular or (in the Mannerist style) segmental. Arches are often used in arcades, supported on piers or columns with capitals. There may be a section of entablature between the capital and the springing of the arch.
Vaults do not have ribs. They are semi-circular or segmental and on a square plan, unlike the Gothic vault which is frequently rectangular.
Unique Characteristics of Renaissance Architecture Columns & Pilasters:
Domes:
Roman and Greek orders of columns are used: Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite. The orders can either be structural, supporting an arcade or architrave, or purely decorative, set against a wall in the form of pilasters. During the Renaissance, architects aimed to use columns, pilasters, and entablatures as an integrated system.
The dome is used frequently, both as a very large structural feature that is visible from the exterior, and also as a means of rooďŹ ng smaller spaces where they are only visible internally.
Unique Characteristics of Renaissance Architecture Details:
Construction:
Courses, mouldings and all decorative details are carved with great precision. Studying and mastering the details of the ancient Romans was one of the important aspects of Renaissance theory.
External walls are generally constructed of brick, rendered, or faced with stone in highly finished ashlar masonry, laid in straight courses.
The different orders each required different sets of details. Mouldings stand out around doors and windows rather than being recessed, as in Gothic architecture. Sculptured figures may be set in niches or placed on plinths.
The corners of buildings are often emphasized by rusticated quoins. Internal walls are smoothly plastered and surfaced with lime wash. For more formal spaces, internal surfaces are decorated with frescoes.
Unique Characteristics of Renaissance Architecture Materials: Exterior: Stucco and stone are common materials that were used in the construction of an Italian Renaissance home. A low-pitched, hipped roof (one in which all sides slope downward toward the walls) with terracotta tiles is a typical feature. Decorative brackets supporting moderately-wide, overhanging, boxed roof eaves are prominent in Italian Renaissance homes. Symmetrical design, recessed porches with arched openings, plus classical columns, pilasters and pediments describe the Italian Renaissance architecture.
Unique Characteristics of Renaissance Architecture Materials: Interior: Planked or parquet hardwood, marble and terracotta tiles were frequently used in Italian Renaissance floors. Area rugs add cozy comfort to wood, marble or tile floors. Wall-to-wall carpet is seldom seen in this style of home. Marble counter tops, fireplace mantels and columns enhance the Italian Renaissance ambiance. Scagliola is a less expensive substitute for natural marble. Venetian plaster, a decorative stucco, adds texture to walls.
Unique Characteristics of Renaissance Interiors Although the interiors of Renaissance churches and the more formal spaces of other large buildings survive much as they were when new, everyday living spaces have rarely remained unchanged. Furniture, textiles, and smaller artifacts that are easy to remove or replace generally survive only as museum exhibits or as antiques treasured by collectors. Fortunately, Renaissance painting turned toward increasingly realistic representation and, with the development of skill in linear perspective, artists were able to show interiors in ways that seem almost photographic. Religious subjects are usually shown set in locations of the artists’ own times, so that the kinds of scenes that appear in medieval works in conventionalized form appear in Renaissance works in ways that are almost documentary.
Annibale Carracci, ceiling frescos, Farnese Palace, Rome, 1597–1600.
Vittore Carpaccio, The Legend of St. Ursula, 1490–8. In this scene the saint sleeps in an elegant late fifteenthcentury Venetian bedroom, on a bed elevated on a platform, with a high canopy supported by posts at the foot. Open windows have leaded glass above and wicker screens below, as well as shutters.
Unique Characteristics of Renaissance Interiors Sala Bevilacqua, Fondazione Bagatti Valsecchi, Milan, c. 1500. This richly decorated room has silk- covered walls and ornamental door frames and mantelpiece. The contemporary furniture includes a Savonarola chair at the left, a cassone, a cassapanca, and sgabello seat.
Sgabello chair
Savonarola chair, c. 1500.
Unique Characteristics of Renaissance Architecture
Light ďŹ xtures: Wrought iron, distressed copper, bronze and cast iron are construction materials that were commonly used in crafting Italian Renaissance lighting. Twisted metal chandeliers, antique wall sconces and hanging lanterns complement this decor. Wrought iron or copper table or oor lamps are functional and blend seamlessly with the Italian Renaissance design.