Italian Renaissance- Neoclassic

 

Italian Renaissance- Neoclassic

By:Ruth Ramos

The Renaissance, "rebirth", was a cultural movement that spread during the 1400-1600s. There was a "rebirth", or rather, renewed interest in past culture, ideals, and aesthetics relating to Ancient Greece and Rome after the Middle Ages. This time was sparked by a new-found interest in a man-and-individual concept of the world on top of divinity and God. However, it became a less prominent concept. There was much value in balance, realism, and humanism.This time period also had a heavy influence from the Crusaders when they would return to Europe, introducing new forms of art, knowledge, and cultural influences from the Middle East. Many classical forms, such as columns, domes, and symmetry were adapted and refined into the new Italian Renaissance. Many acknowledge Leonardo DaVinci and Michelangelo as prominent figures of this time because of their captivating artwork and their architectural knowledge. 

The Renaissance took a shift from Gothic and Romanesque structures regarding the thickness of walls and the small windows. They emphasized elegance and symmetry, which meant using building techniques for larger windows, open spaces, and lighter materials. Renaissance interior emphasized harmony, balance, and classical motifs. Those who had the resources for it would have intricately carved wood furniture, tapestries, and artwork relating to humanism and classical mythology. This was also the time of the printing press. Its invention helped spread Renaissance ideals which allowed knowledge and literature to spread across Europe, accelerating intellectual and cultural growth. 

Let's explore the architecture of the Renaissance Era:

Much of the Renaissance architecture consisted of symmetrical facades, central courtyards, and classical elements, as seen below. There is a clear Roman influence with the designs focusing on balance and horizontal lines.

                            Palazzo Farnese                                             Villa Rotonda (most infleuntial)

The interiors of the Renaissance Era had decorative moldings, coffered ceilings, frescoes, elaborate furniture inlays, gilding, and intricate woodwork. Some examples include the Sedia chairs, sgabello stool, the X chair (Dante chair), the Cassone, beds with detailed textile decor and canopy designs, and tables often seen in a trestle style.

Modern Example: Italian Renaissance Cafe

Here are some of the chair types:

                   Sedia Chair                                Sgabello Chair/Stool                             Dante Chair

    Current Applications:

   

 

   One Step Further:

Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446)

Filippo is considered to be the first Renaissance architect. Having the training of a goldsmith from Florence, he found an interest in architecture. As a result, he traveled to Rome to study the ancient buildings. As we know, the Renaissance era was a "rebirth" of past structures, in this case, Roman architecture. Some of his greatest achievements include engineering the dome of the Florence Cathedral, also known as the Duomo. He is praised for being the first to consistently use classical orders (Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian) properly since antiquity. His work may appear simple, but he used a defined system of proportion. Using a unit of measurement, the repetition throughout a structure resulted in a sense of harmony. One example of this is the Ospedale Degli Innocenti in Florence.

Florence Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Ospedale Degli Innocenti in Florence