HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE - V
INTRODUCTION TO RENAISSANCE
MODULE -1.1
BACKGROUND : FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT
■ The Renaissance is a period from the 14th to the 17th century, considered the bridge
between the Middle Ages and Modern history. It started as a cultural movement in Italy
in the Late Medieval period and later spread to the rest of Europe.
■ The invention of the Gutenberg printing press in 1450 is a milestone which marks the
beginning of the Renaissance. Ideas were able to be spread quicker and farther
because of the printing press. It allowed communication to occur through all of Europe.
■ The Renaissance was a time of great beauty and art. Artists like Leonardo da Vinci and
Michelangelo created greats works of art during this time. Writers like William
Shakespeare were producing their own masterpieces.
■ It was also a time of creativity, imagination and curiosity. The Renaissance was the age
of exploration. The voyages of many great explorers, for example, the most famous one
being of like Columbus, occurred during the Renaissance.
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BACKGROUND : FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT
■ The word ‘renaissance’ is a French word which means ‘rebirth’. The people credited with
beginning of the Renaissance, were trying to recreate the classical models of Ancient
Greek and Rome.
■ The people of the Middle Ages and the people of the Renaissance saw the world
differently. During the Middle Ages, most people were victims to poverty, plague, and an
oppressive church. During the Renaissance, thought was expanding, health was
returning, and art was booming.
■ There were changes in thinking during Renaissance. New ideas in art, science,
astronomy, religion, literature, mathematics, philosophy, and politics were developed
and advanced. The influence of the Renaissance impacted and shaped the future. The
changes that happened led to a modern era.
■ Hence, in conclusion, Renaissance architects rejected the intricacy and verticality of
Gothic for the simplicity and balanced proportions of classicism.
BACKGROUND : FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT
■ GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITION
– Renaissance architecture first started in Italy in the early period of 15th century and
later on, spread over the countries of W. Europe. The countries which came under
direct influences of this style were France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Spain and
England.
■ GEOLOGICAL CONDITION
– The countries coming under this style covered vast parts of Europe and were
subjected to availabilities of different materials which decided the character of its
architecture.
■ RELIGIOUS CONDITION
– There was a revival of religious as well as domestic architecture, yet Renaissance
churches were built on a large scale.
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BACKGROUND : FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT
■ SOCIAL CONDITION
– The intellectual movement started earlier in literature than in architecture. It
changed the taste of the people. It created a break in the continuous evolution of
European architecture up to Gothic style.
– There was then reversion to earlier classic architecture. Also Greek scholars came
to Italy in large numbers.
– The art, literature and architecture improved due to some eminent architects like,
Alberti, Michelangelo, Palladio and Christopher Wren.
■ HISTORIC CONDITION
– New countries were discovered such as Cape of Good Hope by Diaz (1487) and
America by Christopher Columbus (1492).
– New materials were invented such as gun-powder, mariner’s compass and the
telescope by Galileo.
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CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
■ Renaissance is the revival of the classic Greek and Roman architecture.
■ After the fall of the feudal system, the mode of living changed too and brought new
buildings in common use. Hence, people started realizing the beauty of classic style.
■ The fragments of the Roman past in art and literature had been there which the people
had never entirely forgotten.
■ Greek, Roman and Italian workmen were employed for reviving the classic architecture.
So strongly had this revival impressed the artists, that they called the entire period of
rebirth or Renaissance.
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CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
■ The Renaissance made several contributions
such as massive rusticated masonry walls
accurately laid in horizontal courses. Large size
stone blocks were used to dignify the
construction. Wall angles were rusticated to give
an appearance of strength.
■ Rustication was a popular decorative treatment of
the Renaissance period, in which masonry wall
was textured rather than kept smooth.
■ This involved leaving grooves in the joints
between smooth blocks, using roughly dressed
blocks or blocks which were deliberately textured.
■ The rustication of walls was often done to
differentiate between 2 floors on the external
facade.
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CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
■ PLANS
– Square, symmetrical, planned appearance in which proportions are usually based
on a module. Within a church the module is often the width of an aisle.
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CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
■ PLANS
– Towers are sparingly used while the dome is the predominant feature externally.
– Dome is used frequently, both as a very large structural feature that is visible from
the exterior, and also as a means of roofing smaller spaces where they are only
visible internally.
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CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
■ FACADE
– Symmetrical around their vertical axis.
– Church facades are generally surmounted by
a pediment.
– Columns and windows show a progression
towards the centre.
– Domestic buildings are often surmounted by
a cornice. There is a regular repetition of
openings on each floor, and the centrally
placed door is marked by a feature such as
a balcony, or rusticated surrounding.
– Pediments are low-pitched or semi-circular.
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CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
■ WALL
– External walls were of highly finished ashlar
masonry laid in horizontal courses and
materials were in large blocks to give an
impression of dignity.
– Wall angles or corners were often
rusticated to give an appearance of strength.
– Rusticated Masonry - rough surface and
bevelled edges of stone blocks to emphasize
the joints between them.
– Internal walls are smoothly plastered. QUOIN
– Internal surfaces are often decorated with
frescoes.
– Skylines are characterized by horizontal
cornices which give simplicity of outline.
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CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
■ OPENINGS
– Arches are semi-circular or segmental.
– Arches are often used in arcades, supported
on piers or columns with capitals.
– Door usually have square lintels. They may
be set within an arch or surmounted by a
triangular or segmental pediment.
– Openings that do not have doors are usually
arched and frequently have a large or
decorative key stone.
– Windows may be paired and set within a
semi-circular arch.
– They may have square lintels and triangular
or segmental pediments, which are often
used alternatively.
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CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
■ ROOFS
– Vaulting is developed by means of semi-
circular or segmental vaults on a square plan
without ribs. Unlike the Gothic vault which is
frequently rectangular.
– Timber roofs are no longer left open.
– Fitted with flat or coffered ceilings.
– Frequently painted or decorated.
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CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
■ MOULDINGS
– Projecting horizontal cornices cast deep
shadows
■ COLUMNS
– Classic orders were used - Tuscan, Doric,
Ionic, Corinthian and Composite and their
proportions standardized
– Orders can either be structural, supporting
an arcade or architrave, or purely
decorative, set against a wall.
– When against walls, the orders often appear
as pilasters.
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CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
■ ORNAMENTS
– Motifs : Classical mythology and Fresco
painting
– Characteristics : Carefully executed and
Fine craftsmanship
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