Renaissance Architecture

• Renaissance


  Rebirth of classical art and learning in Europe
• The renaissance originated in Florence, Italy in the early 15th century
• Renaissance architecture


  • Use of round arches
  • Use of classical orders
  • Symmetrical proportions
  • Based on regular order, symmetry, and a central axis
  • Emphasis on horizontality
  • Ornamentation based on pagan or classical mythological subjects
• Example of Renaissance architecture

  • St. Peter's Cathedral, Vatican City
• Bramante


  First commissioned to design St. Peter's Cathedral
• Antonio da Sangallo the Younger


  Designed St. Peter's Cathedral
• Michelangelo


  Designed the dome and colonnades of St. Peter's Cathedral
• Bernini


  Designed the baldacchino (decorative element at the altar) of St. Peter's Cathedral
• Renaissance architects


  • Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola
  • Andrea Palladio
  • Leon Battista Alberti
  • Filippo Brunelleschi
  • Donato Bramante
  • Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti
  • Raphael
• Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola


  Papal architect to Pope Julius III and the Farnese family, designed Villa Farnese
• Andrea Palladio


  Greatest figure in Venetian Renaissance, noted for classical proportions & symmetry, designed Church of San Giorgio Maggiore and Villa Capra
• Leon Battista Alberti


  Central figure in quattrocento architecture after Brunelleschi, designed Palazzo Rucellai and St. Maria Novella, wrote "De Re Aedificatoria"
• Filippo Brunelleschi


  Leading architect of the Florentine Early Renaissance, designed Duomo of Florence Cathedral and Basilica of San Lorenzo
• Donato Bramante


  Most important architect of the Italian High Renaissance, designed Church of Sta. Maria delle Grazie and Tempietto di San Pietro
• Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti


  Revolutionary sculptor, painter, and architect, reinvigorated classism, designed Laurentian Library and dome of St. Peter's Basilica
• Raphael


  Foremost renaissance designer, noted for decorative innovations, designed Church of St. Maria and Palazzo Pandolfini
• Birth of Renaissance architecture in the 16th century in Florence, Italy
• Filippo Brunelleschi is considered the first Renaissance architect
• Leon Battista Alberti's "Ten Books on Architecture", inspired by Vitruvius, became a bible of Renaissance architecture
• Mannerism was the style of the Late Renaissance (1520-1600)
• Building Typologies


  • Church
  • Palazzo
  • Villa
• Early Renaissance (1400-1500)


  • Brunelleschi and Alberti were the two leading Renaissance architects
  • Brunelleschi's famous work was the octagonal brick dome of Santa Maria del Fiore
  • Brunelleschi's dome is crowned by a lantern
  • Alberti became the most influential architectural theorist, pioneer of classical facade design, his greatest facades include the Church of Sant' Andrea and Palazzo Rucellai
  • Many architects regarded the circle as the "perfect shape"
• High Renaissance (1400-1500)


  • Central plan layout was popular
  • Donato Bramante was the founder and leader of High Renaissance architecture
  • Bramante's Tempietto is a small commemorative tomb
  • Bramante's greatest unrealized work was a central design for St. Peter's Basilica
  • The foremost High Renaissance church is the Church of Santa Maria in Todi
  • The Palazzo Farnese is the greatest Renaissance palace, designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger
  • A popular decorative treatment was rustication
• Late Renaissance (1525-1600) - Mannerism


  • Reaction against the classical perfection of the High Renaissance
  • Andrea Palladio maintained a firmly classical aesthetic, known for villa design, most influential architect of all time
• Character and elements of Renaissance architecture

  • Symmetrical facades around vertical axis
  • Use of Roman orders of columns
  • Use of big domes
  • Use of square lintels and triangular or segmental pediments
  • Finished with ashlar masonry, laid in straight courses
• Michelangelo's design for the dome was inspired by Brunelleschi's dome at Florence Cathedral.
• St Peter's Basilica is considered one of the greatest achievements of Renaissance architecture.
• The dome was the most important feature of St Peter's Basilica, designed by Michelangelo.