Forms and Decorative Elements in Renaissance Architecture
What is the renaissance architecture? The answer lays in its very name- the word is originally French, from term la rinascita “to be reborn”. If we want to describe this era, we could say, that renaissance is “a self-conscious break with the past and search for the new forms of expression”. And it’s fully true- renaissance is an entirely new turn in the History of Architecture, but at the same time it’s a return to and exalt of antique forms of roman art.
It is said, that “Renaissance architects and their patrons considered architecture of their time to be modern and scientific”- which first sounded strange to me, because it’s said that renaissance appeared by recreating the antique roman forms. But aren’t we thinking about our modern architecture the same way? We repeating over and over again already existing styles, but by combining and improving it, using our knowledge and new technologies we can create something completely different and startling. Ancient Roman architecture was worth to become an example for a new architectural style: it brought big open space (Colosseum, Rome), aqueduct for comfort, technology (unreinforced concrete dome in Pantheon, Rome). If fact, Gothic architecture also brought a lot of innovations, but in Italy, full of antique roman architecture, appeared a condemnation and neglect attitude towards Gothic.
Renaissance architecture also differed by application of scientism- a belief in the universal applicability of the scientific methods and approach. The whole history of renaissance is the history of the appropriation of ancient Greek and Roman architectural principles, forms and types. Therefore it means that renaissance art must imitate nature and must be rational, using defined method and rules in respect of natural laws. Architecture, in turn, must not only imitate nature, but it must imitate it in scientific manner, such as linear perspective, and not just to imitate, but to understand very principles, after which nature made
It is said, that “Renaissance architects and their patrons considered architecture of their time to be modern and scientific”- which first sounded strange to me, because it’s said that renaissance appeared by recreating the antique roman forms. But aren’t we thinking about our modern architecture the same way? We repeating over and over again already existing styles, but by combining and improving it, using our knowledge and new technologies we can create something completely different and startling. Ancient Roman architecture was worth to become an example for a new architectural style: it brought big open space (Colosseum, Rome), aqueduct for comfort, technology (unreinforced concrete dome in Pantheon, Rome). If fact, Gothic architecture also brought a lot of innovations, but in Italy, full of antique roman architecture, appeared a condemnation and neglect attitude towards Gothic.
Renaissance architecture also differed by application of scientism- a belief in the universal applicability of the scientific methods and approach. The whole history of renaissance is the history of the appropriation of ancient Greek and Roman architectural principles, forms and types. Therefore it means that renaissance art must imitate nature and must be rational, using defined method and rules in respect of natural laws. Architecture, in turn, must not only imitate nature, but it must imitate it in scientific manner, such as linear perspective, and not just to imitate, but to understand very principles, after which nature made