Download Khan Iris Khan Ms. Palmer 13 YOC Writing 12 May 2015 The

Khan 1
Iris Khan
Ms. Palmer
13 YOC Writing
12 May 2015
The Renaissance Architecture
Have you heard about the time period of Renaissance Architecture? According to many
people, the Renaissance began in the 1400s in Florence, Italy (Smith, pg 162). Lots of great
structures were built during the Renaissance, which still stand today. The Renaissance was one
of the greatest periods in history for beautiful architecture. Because of the revival of classical
styles, which was motivated by “humanism,” a philosophy which encouraged education and
human progress. Thus the Renaissance was a time of talented, skillful architects, new inventions
which made this architecture possible, and beautiful structures.
The Renaissance began with the rediscovery of classical styles and ideas from Roman
antiquity. During the Renaissance a unique type of literature developed. The new type of
literature was called “Treatise. Basically this literature wrote about buildings and proportion
(Smith, pg 162-163).“The Renaissance started in the 15th century with a book of a Roman
architect, Vitruviu’s Ten Book Concerning Architecture” (Smith, pg 162). However, Filippo
Brunelleschi discovered the “architecture of antiquity” before Vitruvius (Smith, pg 162).
Classical styles were motivated by Humanism, a “philosophy, a variety of ethical theory and
practice that emphasizes reason, scientific inquiry, and human fulfillment in the natural world
and often rejects the importance of belief in God” (Dictionary.com.) Classical styles, which later
Khan 2
influenced the Renaissance, came from the Greek and Roman architecture. Classical style can be
defined as, “the artistic style of ancient Greek art with its emphasis on proportion and harmony”
(Free Dictionary.com).During the Middle Ages, architecture didn’t flourish. People were busy
going to “work and war” and to survive (Ducksters.) During that particular time period, there
was a belief that humans couldn’t progress; there was only hope for heaven. Filippo Brunelleschi
was one of the first who studied the architecture of Greeks and Romans (Ducksters.)
After the Renaissance influenced Italy it also started influencing many other countries.
During the 1500s, the Renaissance spread to France, Spain, Holland, England and many other
neighboring countries (Wikipedia, Renaissance Architecture). Before, Germany had basic
designs, usually coming from books. German Renaissance was started by “German philosophers.”
For example, the Johanisburg Palace. In Germany, “Gothic style blended with the Renaissance.”
A family sponsored a Renaissance to be built.” This style was liked by many people and soon the
Renaissance influenced Austria (Wikipedia, Renaissance Architecture). Polish royalty ordered
architects to construct churches, and palaces. Gothic style was liked by several countries in
Eastern Europe, but later the Gothic style was replaced by the Renaissance. In the 16th century,
French were at war in Italy. After the war the people brought back the Renaissance style form
Italy. France also had castles with the style of Renaissance (Wikipedia, Renaissance
Architecture). England was not affected by the Renaissance for a long time, its style remained
Gothic (Smith, pg 167). Later Renaissance influenced England only when Queen Elizabeth I
took power. Ingio Jones was in Italy studying the Renaissance. He brought this type of
architecture to England. The Renaissance also influenced the Iberian Peninsula (Spain).
Platersque, a style, which developed in Spain from the mixture of the Renaissance and Gothic
Khan 3
styles. This style usually included beautiful façades. Renaissance style developed in Portugal
very slowly.
The Renaissance later influenced Eastern Europe (Russia). Renaissance was brought to
Russia with the help of Prince Ivan III. Prince Ivan III brought Italian architects to Russia.
Aristotele Fiorvanti was given a job to rebuild the Cathedral of Dormition. Aristotele combined
Russian and Renaissance style. (Wikipedia, Renaissance Architecture).
Filippo Brunelleschi was considered to be the first to discover Renaissance Architecture
(Wikipedia, Renaissance Architecture). Fillipo Brunelleschi was a “goldsmith, sculptor, and
architect.” (Wikipedia, Filippo Brunelleschi). During 1418, Filippo focused more on architecture.
According to many people, the Renaissance began in 1419, when Filippo got permission for
designing the dome of Florence Cathedral (Ducksters). During the Middle Ages, people had
forgotten about art, literature, and architecture. After seeing Filippo’s design of the dome of
Florence Cathedral they were amazed of how beautiful and accurate his dome was. Later he also
designed a lot of other churches such as Saint Lorenzo (Wikipedia, Filippo Brunelleschi).
Besides building, Filippo invented ways of rising up objects for the construction of the Dome of
Florence Cathedral (Ducksters). In addition to that, Filippo also developed the laws of line
perspective. Filippo was a talented architect.
Another very talented figure during the Renaissance was Leonardo Da Vinci. Leonardo
Da Vinci was a scientist, artist, architect, and a mathematician. He was a humanist. “Most
valued as an engineer.” (Wikipedia, Leonardo Da Vinci). He developed machines, which worked
as protection for different regions. Even though his designs never built Leonardo Da Vinci made
great designs for buildings. For example, Leonardo Da Vinci made designs for the Milan
Khan 4
Cathedral’s dome, but the cathedral was never built. Leonardo Da Vinci made plans and sketches
of buildings (Wikipedia, Leonardo Da Vinci).
Andrea Palladio was one of the architects, who studied the Romans and Greeks. Andrea
Palladio “influenced the West.” He usually designed many structures. For example, structures
like the Villa Emo and the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore. Over the years, he developed his
own style known as the “Palladian.” He also wrote literature, which also influenced many
architects. One of his books is called “I Quattro libridell’architecttura,” was published in Venice,
1570 (Wikipedia, Andrea Palladio).
Michelangelo Buonarroti was an“architect, artist, poet and engineer” in the Italian
Renaissance. Some of his best works are St. Peter’s Basilica, Palazzo Farnese, and the ceiling of
Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo Buonarroti designed the Medici Chapel and the tombs of Giuliano
and Lorenzo Medici (Wikipedia, Michelangelo Buonarroti).
“Donato
Bramante
introduced
Renaissance
to
Milan,”
(Wikipedia,
Donato
Bramante).Donato Bramante was a painter from Italy. He began focusing on architecture, when
he got respect for designing Italian churches. Later he moved to Rome. He moved to Rome
because he had to build a “place for Saint Peter.” This caused Donato to do both art and
architecture (Wikipedia, Donato Bramante). He put together different shapes and crosses to show
geometry (Smith, pg 176). Later these styles showed up in the 17th and 18th centuries (Smith, pg
176). Raphael was an artist and architect. He was an artist and architect during the High
Renaissance. “His work is admired for its clarity of form and ease of composition” (Wikipedia,
Raphael). He built Villa Madama, for visitors to meet the Pope. His drafts included fountains and
Khan 5
terraces. Along with Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci they three were the some of the
greatest people during the Renaissance period. (Wikipedia, Raphael).
Domenico Fontana was an “Italian engineer.” the Renaissance period. He mostly built
religious structures. The biggest thing he redesigned was Archbasillica of Saint John Latern.
Domenico also designed the Sistine Chapel.
Pierre Lescot was an architect from France(“Famous Architects of the Renaissance.”
Answers) “Pierre Lescot, was an architect during the French Renaissance” (Wikipedia, Pierre
Lescot). Pierre Lescot helped with designing the Louvre.
For constructing Renaissance structures new inventions were created. Filippo
Brunelleschi invented different ways of raising objects to construct the Dome of Florence
Cathedral. “He invented hoisting machines for hoisting large stones.” “To raise up 37,000 tons of
different material and four million bricks”(Wikipedia, Florence Cathedral). Many architects also
made advances in mathematics, to make the construction of Renaissance Architecture possible.
For Example the development of line perspective.
The Renaissance architecture is very beautiful. Since it was based on the classical style it
was very proportional, detailed and usually well planned. Renaissance buildings were usually
rectangular (Wikipedia, Renaissance Architecture). The Florence Cathedral was built during the
Early Renaissance. The building had a plan. “The building’s plan was entirely a big, Latin cross,
and the aisles were separated by arches.” “The façade was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio”
(Wikipedia, Florence Cathedral). The Florence Cathedral also had a dome. The dome was built
with four million bricks, by Filippo Brunelleschi (Ducksters). Renaissance Architecture often
used façades, columns or pilasters, domes, arches, ceilings designed by famous artists.
Khan 6
According to Dictionary.com, a façade is a “the front of a building, especially an imposing or
decorative one.” One of the churches built during the Late Renaissance was the Basilica of St.
Peter. This church is located in Vatican City. The Basilica of St. Peter is the biggest church in the
world (Duckster). The construction of Basilica of St. Peter took 120 years (Ducksters). Maderno
designed Basilica of St. Peter’s façade. The façade is “114.69 meters (376.3ft) wide and 45.55
meters (149.4ft) high.” (Wikipedia, St. Peter's Basilica)
Another great structure was the Pazzi Chapel (Ducksters). The chapel was help designed
by Filippo Brunelleschi. This building was built in Florence, Italy. According to many people,
the building was one of the first places to be built during the Early Renaissance. (Wikipedia,
Pazzi Chapel).
El Escorial a palace built in the 1500s for a Spanish king (Ducksters). It is “built in the
town of San Lorenzo.” The El Escorial has a big façade. The façade has three doors. The “door
in the middle leads to the Courtyard of Kings. “The other two doors by the sides lead to a school
and monastery.” (Wikipedia, El Escorial)
A religious structure, known as the Sistine Chapel was built for the Pope of Vatican City
(Ducksters). Domenico Fontana and a few other architects designed this chapel. At first, its name
was Capella Magna, but later it was changed. One of the walls, was “decorated with Stories of
Moses and the other wall was decorated with Stories of Jesus. In 1508, Michelangelo redesigned
the ceiling. At first, the ceiling was painted blue with golden colored stars. “Michelangelo
redesigned the ceiling and he painted the Last Judgment” (Wikipedia, Sistine Chapel).
Khan 7
A palace built the High Renaissance, is known as the Palazzo Farnese (Ducksters). The
Palazzo Farnese is located in Rome. “Big, main rooms of the Palazzo Farnese were decorated
with mural paintings.” The ceilings were very beautiful (Wikipedia, Palazzo Farnese).
Renaissance Architecture was a very important time period. Renaissance Architecture
was influenced by Humanism and founded by Fillipo Brunelleschi. Architecture influenced lots
of European countries and even causing new styles in architecture. Renaissance architecture had
many features used in most buildings. Renaissance Architecture had flat ceilings decorated with
the most beautiful frescos, arches and domes. Renaissance Architecture amazed many people by
how “proportional and symmetrical,” the buildings were. Most Renaissance Architecture still
stand today.
Khan 8
Work Cited
"Andrea Palladio." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"Classical Style - Dictionary Definition." Vocabulary.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"Donato Bramante." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"El Escorial." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"Famous Architects of the Renaissance." Answers.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"Filippo Brunelleschi." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"Florence Cathedral." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"Leonardo Da Vinci." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"Michelangelo." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"Palazzo Farnese." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"Pazzi Chapel." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"Pierre Lescot." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"Raphael." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"Renaissance Architecture." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"Renaissance." History: Architecture and Buildings for Kids. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May
2015.
"Sistine Chapel." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"St. Peter's Basilica." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
"The Renaissance." History for Kids: How Did the Renaissance Start? N.p., n.d. Web. 04
May 2015.
Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
Khan 9
Smith, Adele. “Architecture A World History.” North America: Harry Abrams, 2008.
Print.
Khan 10
Khan 11