Renascence

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[published 15/6/2021]

Intro

Renascence is french for rebirth. Florance is known as the cradle of the renascence.

Though technically a republic, Florance mainly came under the rule of the Medici family. Opinions on their conduct are mixed. However, they were keen patrons of artisans and scholars, a potent ingredient in the city-states cultural soup. Another ingredient was Florence recognition of the Christian church, which bought commissions from the papal state through its doors.

 Architects, artists, writers, philosophers and many others looked back to antiquity to help with problems of the time. Humanists (schoolers) dedicated themselves to finding, translating and copying old classical texts. This is possibly how Vitruvius originally became translated. However, it is more likely that it was studied and used to influence a humanist view of architecture. Vitruvius is the oldest known guide to being an architect. Originally it was written to advise a monarch. He looked at the attributes which people needed to be a successful architect. Interestingly, even in antiquity, the ability to design a building was seen as a multi-skilled discipline.

The architecture built at that time was inspired by the grammar of antiquity. Using classical proportions and devices. With improvements and variations. The style differed from the north of Europe, mainly because it had not been influenced by the Gothic period. Instead, most of the buildings (pre-renaissance) were in the Romanesque style.

The churches of the time also used lighting differently. Plain openings made the most of the natural light in the south. The north has less light in the day and longer nights that it was prudent for Northan architecture to make the most of their type of light. Stainglass windows are incredibly effective at night. Interior light carries out of the building through the colourful glass, creating a spectacle. They also uplift the building during gloomy days and sparkle when the sun is high.


 

Alberti

Alberti (1404—1472) was an illigitamet son of a merchent-banker. He was loved and given an excellent humanist education. His father's love of mathematics inspired him. As was fashionable in the renascence, he turned his hand to a range of pursuits, such as; philosophy, astronomy, painting and of course, architecture.

Inspired by Vitruvius, Alberti wrote 10 books on architecture. He spoke about the use of public and private, religious and secular. He also personified buildings and their parts (i.e. the use of orders). This writing inspired Antonio di Pietro Averlino (Filarete).

The marble facade of Santa Maria Novella in Florence has an eye-catching complexity. Initially planned by two Dominican brothers, Sisto and Ristoro. It was constructed between  c. 1278 - 1350. Alberti renovated it between1456–70. Initially, I believed that the 2D detail was painted on it. However, the 2D work is actually marble. Like most classically derived works, it contains a lot of horizontal and vertical detail, which seems to subtly support the main elements. 


Filarete (Antonio Avelino)

Filarete’s(c.1400—c.1469) original name was Antonio di Pietro Averlino or Averulino. Inspired by Alberti, he wrote extensively about the qualities of architecture. One-piece focused on designing the city of Sforzinda. Though there is some definite discrepancy in the piece. The layers of thought involved in the creation of a city are typical of the renaissance work ethic. Its creation has inspired many architects to design and consider the utopian city. It's a trend that the likes of Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright have taken part in.

There is no evidence linking it to Palmanova, Italy. However, the form is uncanny and is likely to be an inspiration.


 

Bibliography

Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Santa Maria Novella | church, Florence, Italy. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Santa-Maria-Novella.

Kelly-Gadol, J. (2019). Leon Battista Alberti | Italian architect and author. In: Encyclopædia Britannica. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leon-Battista-Alberti.

Kim, D. (2017). 7 Utopian Design Experiments, from Le Corbusier's Radiant City to a Ghost Town in China. [online] Artsy. Available at: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-7-utopian-design-experiments-le-corbusiers-radiant-city-ghost-town-china.

Korey, A. (2014). Putting on a good face: Renaissance facades in Florence. [online] ArtTrav. Available at: https://www.arttrav.com/florence/renaissance-facades-in-florence/ [Accessed 15 Jun. 2021].

Leon Battista Alberti - Contribution to philosophy, science, and the arts. (2019). In: Encyclopædia Britannica. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leon-Battista-Alberti/Contribution-to-philosophy-science-and-the-arts.

Limardi, A. and Russumanno, D. (n.d.). Churches of Italy in the 15th and 16th century. [online] www.madeinsouthitalytoday.com. Available at: http://www.madeinsouthitalytoday.com/churches-in-the-15th-and-16th-century.php [Accessed 15 Jun. 2021].

Montes, G. (2017). Beautiful Stained-Glass Windows Around the World. [online] Architectural Digest. Available at: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/stained-glass-windows.

Morrison, T. (2017). Unbuilt utopian cities 1460 to 1900 : reconstructing their architecture and political philosophy. London ; Nedw York: Routledge.

National Geographic (2014). How an Amateur Built the World's Biggest Dome. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IOPlGPQPuM.

port.kanopy.com. (n.d.). Renaissance Florence: Age of Gold | Kanopy. [online] Available at: https://port.kanopy.com/video/renaissance-florence-age-gold.

port.kanopy.com. (n.d.). Renaissance Italy | Kanopy. [online] Available at: https://port.kanopy.com/video/renaissance-italy [Accessed 15 Jun. 2021].

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2020). Filarete | Italian architect | Britannica. In: Encyclopædia Britannica. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Filarete [Accessed 22 Jan. 2020].

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