Villa Medici del Trebbio
Trebbio, Italy
1430
Michelozzo
1430
Michelozzo
Villa Medici Fiesole
Fiesole, Italy
1450s
1450s
Villa Barbaro
Maser, Italy
1550s
Palladio
1550s
Palladio
Villa Rotunda
Vicenza, Italy
1560s
Palladio
1560s
Palladio
Belvedere Court
Rome, Italy
1510s
Bramante
1510s
Bramante
Designed as part of the Vatican complex, and meant to serve as the “villa” for the pope, this project reflects the reemergence of axial planning in Renaissance design.
Villa Giulia
Rome, Italy
1550s
Vignola, Ammannati, and Vasari
1550s
Vignola, Ammannati, and Vasari
Villa d’Este
Tivoli, Italy
1560s
Ligorio
Line of axis points toward the Vatican in Rome.
Allegorical narratives revealed through fountains, grottoes, and pools places on transverse axis.
Known for its spectacular fountains, which were powered entirely via gravity-flow of water down the hillside.
1560s
Ligorio
Line of axis points toward the Vatican in Rome.
Allegorical narratives revealed through fountains, grottoes, and pools places on transverse axis.
Known for its spectacular fountains, which were powered entirely via gravity-flow of water down the hillside.
Villa Lante
Bagnaia, Italy
1570s
Vignola
Casini = “little houses”
Allegorical narratives of the Myth of the Four Ages of Man in descending sequence of spaces.
1570s
Vignola
Casini = “little houses”
Allegorical narratives of the Myth of the Four Ages of Man in descending sequence of spaces.
Villa Orsini
Bomarzo, Italy
1550s
Ligorio
1550s
Ligorio
Villa Aldobrandini
Frascati, Italy
Early 1600s
Early 1600s
Included an outdoor theatre
Boboli Gardens
Florence, Italy
1550 – 1650
1550 – 1650
Isola Bella
Lago Maggiore, Italy
1630 – 1730
1630 – 1730
Renaissance
The transitional period in Europe between medieval and modern times, beginning in the 14th century in Italy and lasting into the 17th century.
– Marked as humanistic revival
– Marked as humanistic revival
Humanism
A philosophy that places humans as being of primary importance. It is a perspective that attached importance to human dignity, concern, capabilities, and rationality.
– Rediscovery of Greek and Latin texts.
– Rediscovery of Greek and Latin texts.
Factors that developed the Renaissance
– Changes in Christian theology
– Rediscovery of Greek and Latin texts
– Conquest of Islamic Spain
– Collapse of Byzantine Empire
– Political and economic dynasties
– Est. of universities for art and science
– Invention of linear perspective
– Mechanical printing technology
– Rediscovery of Greek and Latin texts
– Conquest of Islamic Spain
– Collapse of Byzantine Empire
– Political and economic dynasties
– Est. of universities for art and science
– Invention of linear perspective
– Mechanical printing technology
Scholasticism
A method of learning taught by academics of medieval universities.
– emphasized reasoning as the primary tool to find answers and resolve contradictions.
– emphasized reasoning as the primary tool to find answers and resolve contradictions.
St. Augustine of Hippo
354 – 430
354 – 430
Teacher of Greek philosophy.
Prolific Latin writer and responsible for introducing Greek thought into Christian theology.
Prolific Latin writer and responsible for introducing Greek thought into Christian theology.
St. Francis of Assisi
1181 – 1226
1181 – 1226
Retreat into nature / wilderness as a way of seeking God.
St. Thomas Aquinas
1224 – 1274
1224 – 1274
To deny human reason is to deny the power of generosity of God.
Natural Law = a law that is set by nature that is valid everywhere.
Natural Law = a law that is set by nature that is valid everywhere.
The Three Natures
1. Wilderness
2. Cultivated field
3. The garden (art and nature in harmony)
2. Cultivated field
3. The garden (art and nature in harmony)
Platonic Polygons
all angles are equal, and all sides have the same length.
Perspective Drawing
Filippo Brunelleschi (1377 – 1446)
Devised method of drawing linear perspective, ca. 1424
Devised method of drawing linear perspective, ca. 1424
Villa
One of the key places for revival of knowledge and design, philosophy, arts
Alberti’s Guidelines for Villas
– Situated on hillside for sun & fresh air
– View of farmland/nature
– Incorporate the house/garden
– Garden provides walking and strolling
– Fountains and grotto for amusements
– Public/private gardens
– conform to the rules of perfect geometry
– View of farmland/nature
– Incorporate the house/garden
– Garden provides walking and strolling
– Fountains and grotto for amusements
– Public/private gardens
– conform to the rules of perfect geometry
High Renaissance
– Re-emergence of axial planning
– Investigation and study of Roman ruins
– Embrace classical mythology
– Classical mythology as allegory for modern civilization
– Investigation and study of Roman ruins
– Embrace classical mythology
– Classical mythology as allegory for modern civilization
Andrea Palladio
“The Four Books of Architecture”
Grotto
Artificial cave, usually featuring a fountain w/ a sculpture meant to mimic a natural cave and spring.
Papal States
States of the Roman Catholic Church.
Mannerism
An artistic movement that emphasized artificial more than naturalistic qualities. It was a reaction to, and extension of, the more restrained approach of High Renaissance artists such as Alberti or Leonardo da Vinci.
– Emergence during the High Renaissance.
– Focused on studies of classical art.
– Emergence during the High Renaissance.
– Focused on studies of classical art.
Virtuoso
An individual who possesses outstanding technical ability
Allegory
A story in which characters or events represent or symbolize ideas and concepts
– Extended metaphor
– Extended metaphor
Loggia
Covered exterior gallery or corridor usually on an upper level.
Outer wall is open to the elements, usually supported by a series of columns or arches.
Outer wall is open to the elements, usually supported by a series of columns or arches.
Early Renaissance Villa
– Square and rectangular in form.
– Laid out to be viewed from upper level of house.
– Used for holding discussions and entertaining friends.
– Laid out to be viewed from upper level of house.
– Used for holding discussions and entertaining friends.
High Renaissance Villa
– Hillside terrace and central axis
– Outward perspective, both physically and intellectually.
– Used to display collections of ancient statuary.
– Outward perspective, both physically and intellectually.
– Used to display collections of ancient statuary.
Mannerist Villa
– Surprise, novelty and allusion.
– Used for outdoor masques and parties.
– Allegorical stories.
– Movement and drama became important.
– Used for outdoor masques and parties.
– Allegorical stories.
– Movement and drama became important.
Early Baroque
– Axes project beyond the garden walls to focus distant features.
– Influenced by discoveries in geometry, optics, and perspective.
– Movement, drama, and “spatial dynamism.”
– Influenced by discoveries in geometry, optics, and perspective.
– Movement, drama, and “spatial dynamism.”
Golden Ratio
Ideal proportions or golden ratios used throughout the Renaissance to achieve balance and beauty. Used extensively in art and architecture by artists like Leonardo da Vinci and architects like Palladio.
–Fibonacci Sequence:
a + b = 1.618..
–Fibonacci Sequence:
a + b = 1.618..
