Chapter 8: The Italian Renaissance 1400-1600

 Chapter 8: The Italian Renaissance 1400-1600

The Renaissance, meaning “rebirth”, is a time period in history that took classical forms and refined and adapted them for new use. It combined techniques and styles from the gothic and Romanesque eras in the architecture and interior furnishings and designs. The first development of the Renaissance took place in Italy through life and the arts of ancient rome. There was a shift in society from a religious to a secular emphasis that they expressed through art, literature, and architecture. The designs emphasized symmetry and horizontal details. Ancient roman forms became popular forms like insulas, palazzos, and more.

Humanism had a big role during the Renaissance and an influence on Italian Society. Humanism appreciated knowledge in things like science, medicine, and engineering. Although this all seems great, but the early 1400’s was also a time of military turbulence, calling people to stand up and fight for their country. During the heavy political and economical tension, people turned to the arts. People like Leonardo Da Vinci expressed themselves through things like architecture, geology, aerodynamics, hydraulics, botany, and more! Some other people were Donatello (1386-1466), a great sculptor in the early renaissance, Michelangelo, Masaccio, and Bernardo Rossellini.

Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) was an active painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, sculptor, and architect of the High Renaissance. He was known as one of the most influential artists of all time. 

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1574) was also a sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. He is known in history as one of the most famous artists. He is recognized for sculpting pieces such as the Pieta in Rome, the David in Florence, painting the Sistine Chapel ceilings, and designing the dome for St. Peter’s Basilica. 

As architecture and design became popular, palaces during the Renaissance were designed based on repetition, alternation and progression. The palaces usually had three divisions, compound windows, and heavy project cornice. The facades of palaces were usually very detailed and crafted beautifully. The typology found in these palaces included vestibule, a hall or lobby next to the outdoor of a building, a cortile or an enclosed area, typically roofless and arcaded in a building, and also had grand staircases. 

The palazzo Rucellai introduced the classic facade and the orders and details associated with it. They adapted ideas from the Coliseum in Rome. It includes a central court, ground floor with storerooms, and double windows on upper stories. 

The Palazzo Farnese in another building, completed by Michelangelo , originally for Cardinal Farnese. Its facade includes a rectangular black with arches, columns, pilasters, and corbels. Its ground floor is used for a tabernacle. The second and third floor is recognizable by its alternating arches, triangular pediments, and large cornice. 

The Villa Rotonda by Andrea Palladio, the most influential in all of the Renaissance, is a building rotated 45 degrees to the south with all the symmetrical rooms receiving some sunlight. In addition, each side has a classical temple front with stairs leading to six columns. It also features entablature and pediment, and a roman portico. 

The furniture and interiors of architecture during the renaissance worked by contrasting the light and shadow with 3-dimensional modlings. The paneling, fresco, paint, expansion of the space and the ornamentation added to the elaborate feel of the interior. The interior also included decorative moldings, detailed doors and door frames, elaborate painted and coffered ceilings, fireplace metals, and pilasters. The floors and ceilings had mass amounts of detail in the paintings and the materials used, such as brick, terra-cotta tile, and marble in different geometric patterns. 

The furniture within the buildings and spaces were both portable and sparse, They were  made with inlays of ivory, lapis, marble, onyx, walnut and other stone. The chairs were straight and box-like. An example is called sedia, an armchair with rectangular legs attached to floor stretchers with details made of velvet, tapestry or ornamented leather for fridge and patterns. There was also the sgabello, a chair or stool. It had an octagonal or rectangular seat with 3 legs to support it. The Dante Chair, or X chair, is also famous in this historical era. It has an X in the front and the back, separated by stretchers for arms and a seat. It was made of leather and had loose fringe and a tasseled cushion. Lastly, the Savonarola Chair is made of several X’s, usually lighter and more delicate in appearance.

The beds during the Renaissance were also very detailed with textiles, panels and footboards. A canopy or drapery hung over the mattress part of the bed to create a delicate feel.

 

They also had different types of chests and tables, also very detailed and ornamented. 

Favorite Current Applications:

Fresco- inspired wall murals

Classical and modern style sculptures

Decorative ceiling paintings and beams

Renaissance inspired artwork and furniture accents

One step further:

Someone I really find interesting is Michelangelo. A sculptor and artist during the time of the Renaissance, Michelangelo lived a long life of chaos and difficulty. His hardship in life was channeled into his inspiring and amazing pieces of artwork during that time. Recently in ARC 251, wwe worked on a project inspired by both Michelangelo and the David. This piece of artwork is one of my favorites of his. The way he was able to work in great ways with the marble to construct a 17-foot tall biblical figure is incredible. He was able to create something magnific in the midst of political chaos and inspire others to pursue the arts during this time. 

Extra links:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qivmAur1-k
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKTGyvEVM4M
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKTGyvEVM4M
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTF8j7Ov_sU