9
9. The early modern age. Humanism and the Renaissance
179
ITALIAN RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE
To do this, they used different methods:
❚
Simplicity
:
they did not use many
decorative features.
❚
Open
,
diaphanous spaces
, which can
be seen in public squares.
❚
Proportion
:
the
buildings
are
symmetrical and the different parts are
evenly distributed. They were not as tall
as Gothic buildings in order to maintain
harmony between the horizontal and
vertical elements.
Interior of the church of San Lorenzo, Florence, by Brunelleschi
The Palazzo Medici, Florence. Right: Piazza del
Campidoglio in Rome
The best examples of this new architectural style can be found in
Italian cities. The main ones are:
❚
Urban palaces
:
in Florence, the most notable ones are the
Palazzo Pitti (Brunelleschi), the Palazzo Medici (Michelozzo di
Bartolomeo) and the Plazzo Rucellai (Leon Batista Alberti).
❚
Town halls
.
❚
Squares
: an important example is the Piazza del Campidoglio
by Michelangelo.
❚
Hospitals
:
the most notable one is the Ospedale degli
Innocenti, Florence, by Brunelleschi.
❚
Theatres
, for example the Teatro Olimpico, Venice, by Andrea
Palladio.
❚
Libraries
: the most notable one is the Laurentian Library,
Florence, by Michelangelo.
❚
Rural villas
, like the Villa La Rotonda by Andrea Palladio.
During the Renaissance, civil architecture became more
important due to the increased wealth of the bourgeoisie.
The Renaissance architects’ objective
was to achieve the
harmony
of
classical architecture.
Understand
21.
Explain why the number of civil buildings in the Italian
states increased during the 15th century, in comparison
with the previous period.
22.
Are Renaissance buildings exact copies of Classical
Greek and Roman buildings? Why do we say that they
were greatly influenced by Classical architecture?
23.
In your notebook, make a conceptual map of the
Italian Renaissance. Include: the main phases, the most
important artists and the most representative works.
Apply
24.
In your notebook, draw each of the architectural
features which were adopted from Classical art
during the Renaissance. Then draw the four types of
layout which were used in the buildings.
25.
Choose a Renaissance building, find a picture and
make a fact file describing its main features. Include:
❚
The date of construction
❚
The architect
❚
The main architectural features
❚
Your own evaluation
