Week Eight - Italian Renaissance-Neoclassic

 Italian Renaissance

   The Italian Renaissance lasted for about 2,000 years (1400-1600). Renaissance means “rebirth”. The Italian Renaissance took classical forms but adapted and modified them for new uses. The furniture used was largely from the Gothic and Romanesque periods. The climate had much less of an impact on the designs. The Italian Renaissance was a shift from a religious to a secular emphasis. The focus during this period was art, architecture, and literature. The printing press was also invented at this time as a result of the increase in literature. At this time, people began hiring a long-term person for each position such as their painter, architect, sculptor, etc. Architects largely looked at excavations for design ideas. They focused on symmetry and horizontal lines. They largely imitated Ancient Roman styles and designs. They also mainly focused on the interior architecture of the buildings rather than the furniture pieces. 

My Favorite Piece From The Italian Renaissance:

 The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Italian Palazzos

   Italian Palazzos were a more grand and expensive type of building at this time. These could be Italian palaces or just large elegant residences. These were usually built by the wealthy families of the Italian Renaissance. They used the common design concepts of the Italian Renaissance including their linear and symmetrical design as well as large windows and high ceilings for natural light. They also contained features like colonnades, loggias, and large central courtyards. The Palazzo Davanzati was an example of a transitional house between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It was built in the late fourteenth century and contains the first Renaissance interiors. The tall exterior shape of the building also foreshadows the development of building facades in the future. It was also unique because of the open gallery it holds on the top floor. The Palazzo Davanzati also displays a string course for each floor. A string course also called a belt course, is a row of bricks laid horizontally that indicates separation of floors. This was not only for visual pleasure but also to distribute the weight of the building above to make it more structurally sound.

The Exterior and Interior of The Palazzo Davanzati

The Arts

   Interest in the arts grew greatly during the Italian Renaissance. The family “Medici” was a large cause of this. They were very wealthy and funded the arts and architecture at this time. They helped fuel the Renaissance movement in Italy. The idea of Humanism became especially popular and had a great influence on Italian Society. Humanism was a quest for knowledge. They searched for ancient rights, science, medicine, and engineering. There were also many important figures during this period. One of which was Leonardo Da Vinci, also known as the “Renaissance Man”. He acquired this nickname because of his expertise in many fields such as art, architecture, botany, military science, geology, and aerodynamics. He is still known today as one of the most influential artists of all time. He believed that you should never stop learning new things. Another influential figure at this time was Michaelangelo. He is very well known for his sculpting, painting, architecture, and poetry. Some of his most well-known pieces are the Pieta in Rome, St. Peter’s Basilica, the David, and the Sistine Chapel. 

Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

Furniture and Interiors

   During the Italian Renaissance, the design of the interiors of buildings became much more of a focus. They began to have decorative moldings and doorframes. They also focused a lot on the ceilings of buildings. The ceilings and walls were both elaborately painted. Fireplaces also began to take their own design. The floors were often designed beautifully with marble, brick, or terra-cotta tiles. Although furniture at this time was very sparse, the designs they had were quite unique and beautiful. Most furniture was very portable and functional. The finest furniture was made of walnut and had inlays of unique stones. There were also various types of chairs at this time. There was a straight box-like armchair. It was usually black with an upholstered seat. It had straight rectangular legs attached to floor stretchers. Another type of chair was the sgabello which was a stool with a back. It was an all-purpose chair with an octagonal or rectangular seat attached to three legs. There was also the X chair or Dante chair. It got its name because of the x shape the legs make. It usually had a leather back and seat or cushion. The Savonarola chair was very similar in design but contained multiple x’s. They were usually much lighter and more delicate looking.

      Sedia Chair         Sgabello Chair     X Chair/Dante Chair              Savonarola Chair

Current Applications:

Current Italian-Inspired Interior

Current Design of a Dante Chair

Current Example of a Ceiling Painted

Ceilings being painted with unique designs are much less popular today, but I think that they should make a comeback. Most ceilings today are simply painted white, but could have so mcuh more character is they had color or designs. I think that ceilings often get left as blank canvases waiting to be decorated.

One Step Further:

I chose to talk about Michelangelo since he was a key part of the development of the Italian Renaissance. Michelangelo was born on March 6, 1475 in Tuscany, Italy. He was born into a family of bankers, so he lived a very comfortable childhood. He later moved to Florence where his mother died when he was only 6. At the age of 13 he received an apprenticeship from Ghirlandaio. In 1489, he was enrolled in the Humanist Academy and began sculpting. Some of his most well-known works include the Statue of David, the Sistine Chapel, and the Florentine Pieta. He was a very accomplished artist in sculpting, drawing, and painting. He is also well-known for his many pietas which each reflect different images. There was a lack of stone at this time which cause many of his sculptures to appear unfinished. He passed away February 18, 1564, but is still remembered as one of the leading lights of the Italian Renaissance.

Extra Links:

-The Sistine Chapel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJR8qHZwbyI

-How the Cathedral of Santa Maria Dome was built

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IOPlGPQPuM

-Cathedral of Santa Maria History

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ8F_yPwqzA