Italian Renaissance
Architecture: Early
and High Renaissance
Originated in Florence, Italy in the early 15th Century.
" Revival " of the Roman Classical Arts.
With the fall of the Roman Empire, started the Dark
Ages. occurred from 500 CE to 1000 CE in Western
Europe.
With the fall of the Roman Empire, started the Dark
Ages. occurred from 500 CE to 1000 CE in Western
Europe.
then came The Renaissance
then came The Renaissance
then came The RenaIssance
took place from the 14th century to the
19th century,
describes rapid economic, political, and social
change. Often referred to as a “rebirth” after the
Dark Ages, Renaissance artists exemplified the
rediscovery of classical literature, art, and
culture.
Italian Renaissance Architecture, from the
14th to 17th century,
Revived Classical Styles
Emphasizing Symmetry
Proportion
Classical Orders
It produced iconic buildings and continues
to influence architecture today.
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS
1. Plan
2. Facade
3. Columns and Pilasters
4. Arches
5. Vaults
6. Domes
7. Ceilings
8. Doors
9. Windows
10. Walls
PLAN
The plans of Renaissance buildings have a square,
symmetrical appearance in which proportions are
usually based on a module.
St. Andrea in Mantua
By: Leon Battista Alberti
St. Peter’s Basilica
By: Michaelangelo
FACADE
Façades are symmetrical around their vertical axis.
Church façades are generally surmounted by a pediment
and organized by a system of pilasters, arches, and
entablatures.
Palazzo Recellai
By: Leon Battista Alberti
COLUMNS
AND
PILASTERS
Roman and Greek orders of columns are used: Tuscan,
Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite.
ARCHES
Arches are semi-circular or (in the Mannerist style)
segmental. Arches are often used in arcades,
supported on piers or columns with capitals.
Basilica Palladiana
By: Andrea Palladio
Basilica of Sant’Andrea, Mantua
By: Leon Battista Alberti
VAULTS
Vaults do not have ribs. They
are semi-circular or
segmental and on a square
plan, unlike the Gothic vault
which is frequently
rectangular.
Basilica of Sant’Andrea, Mantua
-Leon Battista Alberti
DOMES
The dome is used
frequently, both as a very
large structural feature
that is visible from the
exterior, and also as a
means of roofing smaller
spaces where they are only
visible internally.
CEILINGS
Roofs are fitted with flat or coffered ceilings. They are
not left open as in Medieval architecture. They are
frequently painted or decorated.
Teartro Olimpico
By: Andrea Palladio
Basilica di San Lorenzo
By: Filippo Brunelleschi & Michelangelo
DOORS
Doors usually have square
lintels. They may be set
within an arch or
surmounted by a
triangular or segmental
pediment.
WINDOWS
Windows may be paired and set
within a semi-circular arch. They
may have square lintels and
triangular or segmental pediments,
which are often used alternately.
Palazzo Strozzi
Palazzo Farnese
By: Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, Michelangelo, & Vignola
By: Benedetto da Maiano, Simone del Pallaiolo, & Baccio d’Agnolo
WALLS
External walls are
generally
constructed of
brick, rendered,
or faced with
stone in highly
finished ashlar
masonry, laid in
straight courses
Palazzo Medici-Riccardi
By: Michelozzo di Bartolomeo
Early
Renaissance
(C. 1425–1500)
The Early Renaissance in Architecture,
spanning the 15th century, represented a
dynamic shift from the prevailing
medieval styles to a revival of classical
principles and innovation.
EARLY RENAISSANCE
HUMANISM
SCIENTIFIC
INFLUENCE
ADVANCEMENTS
architectural ideals, with a
Architects embraced
Innovations in engineering and
focus on symmetry,
humanism's emphasis on the
construction techniques,
proportion, and balance.
individual, impacting building
including the use of perspective
design and function.
and geometric precision.
CLASSICAL REVIVAL
A return to Greco-Roman
Influential Architects of
the Early Renaissance
Filippo Brunelleschi
was an Italian architect, designer,
goldsmith and sculptor. He is
considered to be a founding father
of Renaissance Architecture. In
1421, Brunelleschi became the
first person to receive a patent in
the Western world. He is most
famous for designing the dome of
the Florence Cathedral, and for
the mathematical technique of
linear perspective in art.
FLORE N C E C A T H EDRAL DOME
-Filippo Brunelleschi
Leon Battista Alberti
was an Italian Renaissance
humanist author, artist, architect,
poet, priest, linguist, philosopher,
and cryptographer. He is often
considered primarily an architect.
Although Alberti is known mostly
as an artist, he was also a
mathematician: he made
significant contributions to this
field. Leon Battista Alberti’s Ten
Books on Architecture, inspired
by Vitruvius, became a bible of
Renaissance Architecture.
CHURCH OF SAN FRANCESCO
-Leon Battista Alberti
PALAZZO RUCELLAI
-Leon Battista Alberti
Early Renaissance
ARCHITECTURE
High Renaissance
Architecture
Tempietto del Bramante
By: Donato Bramante
HIGH RENAISSANCE
(PROTO-BAROQUE)
The High Renaissance in Architecture (Late 15th to early 16th century)
epitomized classical perfection, innovation, and humanism.
1.Classical Principles:
Embracing Greco-Roman
ideals like proportion
and symmetry.
2.Humanism Influence:
Design centered on
human scale and
experience.
3.Innovative Techniques:
Advancements in
construction and
engineering.
INFLUENTIAL ARCHITECTS OF THE HIGH
RENAISSANCE
Donato Bramante
was an Italian architect and
painter. He introduced
Renaissance Architecture to Milan
and the High Renaissance style to
Rome. In 1502, Bramante marked
the beginning of the High
Renainssance in Rome when he
was appointed to build a
sanctuary called the “Tempietto”,
where Peter was martyred.
St. Peter’s Basilica
Palazzo Farnese
DONATO BRAMANTE
SANGALLO & MICHAELANGELO
Raphael
was an Italian painter and
architect of the High Renaissance.
He was for a time the chief
architect for St. Peter’s Basilica.
He designed a number of
buildings, most of which were
finished by others. His most
influencial work is the Palazzo
Pandolfini in Florence.
Villa Rotonda
-PALLADIO
Legacy
ARCHITECTURAL
IDEAL
CLASSICAL
REVIVAL
HUMAN-CENERED
DESIGN
·Set standards for beauty and
design.
Inspired neoclassical
architecture
Continues to influence
modern architecture.
Humanism’s Influence
Humanism, a Renaissance intellectual movement, significantly shaped
architecture by emphasizing the importance of human scale, proportion,
and symmetry.
HUMAN SCALE
PROPORTION
SYMMETRY
Made architecture
relatable and
comfortable,
enhancing the overall
experience.
Created visually
pleasing, harmonious
environments.
Instilled stability and
completeness,
appealing to viewers'
senses.
Classical Orders
During the Renaissance, architects drew
inspiration from classical antiquity,
particularly the Greek and Roman
architectural traditions, which included the
use of classical orders: Doric, Ionic, and
Corinthian. This incorporation of classical
orders played a pivotal role in shaping
Renaissance architecture.
USE OF Orders
DORIC
Employed for strength
and simplicity.
IONIC
CORINTHIAN
Villa Rotonda
-PALLADIO
USE OF Orders
DORIC
IONIC
Employed for strength
Chosen for elegance
and simplicity.
and refinement
CORINTHIAN
Loggia dei Lanzi
SIMONE TALENTI AND
BENCI DI CIONE
Church of the Redeemer
GIOVANNI ANTONIO SELVA
St.Peter’s Basilica
GIACOMO DELLA PORTA
USE OF Orders
DORIC
IONIC
CORINTHIAN
Employed for strength
Chosen for elegance
Reserved for ornate,
and simplicity.
and refinement
grand projects.
Legacy and Influence
ITALIAN RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE’S LEGACY
Italian Renaissance architecture's legacy lies in its enduring influence on
architectural principles and its role in shaping later styles, including the
dramatic Baroque and the Neoclassical revival. It continues to inspire architects
and captivate admirers, embodying the timeless beauty and intellectual rigor of
the Renaissance era.
Comparisons
Early Renaissance designs
tend to be more restrained,
with a focus on harmonious
proportions and the revival of
classical elements.
High Renaissance designs often
feature grandeur and a heightened
sense of classical beauty,
showcasing more intricate
ornamentation and advanced
technical skill.
Italian Renaissance architecture's significance lies in
its enduring beauty and innovative principles. Its
timeless classical aesthetics and human-centered
approach continue to inspire modern architecture
and design, leaving an indelible mark on the history of
art and shaping the way we experience and
appreciate the built environment.