Summary of the book ‘An

Outline of European
Architecture’
Renaissance and Mannerism
 Renaissance originated in Florence and the foundation was laid by Cosino Medici (Father of
Fatherland) and his grandson Lorenzo The Magnificent which was extensively for the
aristocrats of Florence and Europe.
 The revival(rediscovery) of ancient architecture of the geographical location they belonged
to and which leaned towards worldly ideas rather than spiritual.
 The artwork and literature were rediscovered, translated in the fourteenth century.
 Only great artists/architects were summoned even though that were not their original
profession.
 Antiquity and making things aesthetically appealing became a trend because of their beauty
and also it created a social status for the artists and for whom they worked and it was mostly
done by imitating Roman elements.
 The building elements had resemblance with what was previously done (Roman,
Romanesque and Gothic).
 The discoveries in the other fields led to the discovery of new things in art and architecture.
 Central plan (radial symmetry) had become important which focused on being at the center
to appreciate the beauty which was different before.
 Proportion was the important element and each and every element were designed which
was very particular to that place (Unlike Gothic).
 Renaissance focused also on the palace architecture. Palace has Romanesque motifs and
Roman orders were part of the Palace architecture (Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo Rucelli)
 Unlike Romanesque, in Renaissance walls had decorative elements which in their size and
arrangement follow human reasoning.
 Rhythm was shown in the walls especially palaces (Palazzo Vidoni).
 Churches had both elements from Romanesque (Latin cross plan-Venice, S.Salvatore) and
Byzantine(Centralized plan with dome-Tempietto of S.Pietro) leading to a new variant with
elongated side chapels of Greek cross(St. Peters Rome, Bramante).
 Mannerism followed unbalanced discordant art unlike High Renaissance.
 Palazzo Farmese was a new variant which had a rectangular plan with pilasters and windows
topped with a pediment and blind arches in the upper floor.
 Palazzo Massimi alle collonne had a slight curve on its façade giving it a swaying delicacy but
the squareness in the lower floor expressed powerful solidity.
 In the Palladian architecture for the first time, the building and the architecture landscape
were conceived as they belonged to each other (Villa Rotunda) also they were highly radially
symmetrical.
 Movement was enforced in rigid boundaries in Mannerism (Florence anteroom, library)
 Michelangelo designed the dome of St. Peters Rome which had a heavy weighing down
shape (Mannerist shape).

The Baroque in the Roman Catholic countries

 Baroque, just like Mannerism was termed as historic art, which had odd, extravagant shapes
(which was the style of Italy in 17th century) and it later became a neutral term which simply
represented art.
 After Mannerism, a new style emerged which received Michelangelo’s works (who is termed
as Father of Baroque style) in Rome and then spread out to Northern Italy, Spain, Portugal,
Germany and Austria.
 When the classic tradition of Rome revived due to influence of Paris the style emerged
because of enthusiastic patronage for art and architecture.
 In the initial stage, a few changes were made to Roman style (colonnade became part of the
façade) and oval shape was used in plans staircase).
 Centralized plan with longitudinal elements d=suggested the movements in space. However,
oval as used instead of circles (which was not only used in monuments but also used in
urban planning-radiating streets.)
 A complex form by combined various segments of oval was used in the plan of churches.
 Different patterns of cornice were used for ground floor and first floor which mostly
followed Vignola’s basic composition of facades.
 Borromini designed facades with motifs, oval windows, polygons of odd shapes and varying
sizes which made sense only when they were looked all together as a whole.
 During Baroque style, the art became independent of architecture which led to the loss of
supremacy of the structure. However, Renaissance accepted this independence of art but
was able to hold it together within a building.
 In Bernini and Borromini’s work, the unity is the main principle which holds architecture,
ornamentation and sculpture together.
 Realistic colouring to hide the structural joints led to not showing the honesty of the
materials.
 In Baroque style, the materials didn’t matter until they achieved the visual effect that they
wanted.
 Attempts were made to place everything in perspective (to elongate its length)-like niches,
to provide a scenic illusion.
 Sculptures were placed instead of paintings which gave an illusion of reality (St. Teresa)
which are rendered with exquisite realism.
 Glass was used in a way that it would be seen and respected from all sides. It gave
transparency to the sacrament (Toledo cathedral, Trasparente). Light was used as a medium
of ornamentation.
 Guarini used extensively oval shapes and complex geometries in plan of the church (St.
Lorenzo at Turin) and invented a dome of eight cornered star of ribs.
 In Germany, the churches had optical deceptions which gave a sense of surprise and
religious feeling (St. John Nepomuk church)
 The churches of Baroque style created illusion of reality which gave worldly feelings rather
than spiritual (unlike middle ages).
 Staircase which was only for utility in Renaissance became a way of experiencing the space
by changing axes. Open well and dog legged staircases were designed.