Peer Reviews

Anna- I like how she kept her post short and to the point.  She touched upon a little of everything that made up the French Period.  She also did a good job at mentioning the chateaux and their features.  Her pictures of the modern application were also excellent and really showed off this style.

Emma- I like how she mentioned some of the historical background of this period and what influenced the birth of the French style.  She did a great job of describing the chateaux as well as the historical aspects of the structures. The pictures in her post were also stunning.

French Renaissance

The French Renaissance was a time of royal, wealthy, and powerful designs.  This period was highly influenced by the rulers.  Decorators had the job of bringing these concepts to life.  They had to design a luxurious room while keeping the overall feel consistent and harmonious.  The decorator also supervised the artisans to produce the highest quality design.

The French Period was composed of many subdivisions including :
Early Renaissance (1484-1547)
Middle Renaissance  (1547-1589)
Late Renaissance (1589-1643)
Baroque Style (1643-1700)
Regency Style (1700-1730)
Rococo Style (1730-1760)
Neoclassical Style (1760-1789)
Revolution and Directoire (1789-1804)
Empire (1804-1820)
Restoration Style (1830-1879)

Francois I was the most famous patron of the arts.  He ruled during a transitional style and many Gothic forms with Italian Renaissance ornaments were incorporated.  During this time the Chateau de Chambord, Chateau de Fontainebleau, and Chateau de Blois were built, as well as the renovations of the Louvre to Renaissance style.  Because the main focus was on royalty, there was no need for new religious structure, but rather palaces and chateaux were built.

Francois I began the construction of Chateau Chambord which has 444 rooms, 84 staircases, 365 chimneys and is 14,300 acres of forest, lakes and grassland.  This chateau was considered the largest and most majestic of all the chateaux.  In addition, it was partly designed by Leonardo Da Vinci who contributed the famous double stair case.  This structure was decorated in the Renaissance style and used the fleur-de-lis as its design motif.

The Chateau de Fontainebleau had large structures, formal gardens, lakes, fountains, and an elaborate exterior.  The Galerie in the chateau set a fashion in decoration that was copied all throughout Europe.  This structure features coffered ceilings, carved wall paneling, paintings, sculptures, and high relief stucco ornament.

The exteriors were becoming important and often the interiors did not reflect the exterior style all too well.  Due to the weather, roofs usually had 2 slopes with dormer windows.  Many of the roofs were steep and the structures also required chimneys.

Past 

Present

Extra Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UtIrkrBorM

Peer Reviews

Madelyn- She did a good job at introducing this period.  I also like how she talked about the furniture and interiors more specifically in detail.  Her pictures she chose were excellent examples of the Spanish period and I enjoyed her video, which focused on the Cathedral de Seville

Krista-  I like that her focus was on Alhambra.  I enjoyed her pictures and map of the structure as well.  It gave me a better understanding of this and I also liked reading more about the history behind it.

Spanish Renaissance

The Spanish Period was during the 16th century and was a fusion of Christian Spain with Moorish Art.  The final expulsion of the moors in 1607 led to a great loss to the handicrafts and commerce of southern Spain.  Much of the design of this time was influenced by the Moorish, Early Christian, Medieval, and Italian Renaissance.  The Italian Renaissance influenced not only the Spanish, but the French as well.  

The Moors were from Africa and included some of the world's finest geometricians.  They were also supreme ornamentalists and incorporated colorful, exuberant, and fancy pieces in their designs.  Many of them were also expert wood workers.  Then there were the Mudejars who were Moors that converted to Christianity and became part of the Spanish Christian Groups.

One of the biggest achievements of Moorish architecture and decoration was the Alhambra, located in Granada, Spain.  It was built in 1354 and the last of the Spanish palaces completed before the expulsion of the Moors. Even though the exterior was plain, it had numerous courtyards with gardens, fountains, and reflecting pools.

There are more castles in Spain than any other European country and La Mota Castle was one of these castles.  It was built in the 15th century located in a town named Medina del Campo.  The castle was built by noble Christian families.  This structure was built of concrete walls faced with brick.  

The Granada Cathedral was a a traditional five aisle building with Gothic vaulting and columns.  The Cathedral of Seville is located in Andalusia Spain.  It was the largest cathedral of the 15th century.  To put things into perspective, it was larger than the Haggia Sophia.  This structure demonstrated the cities wealth and held over 500 daily masses.

The Plateresco phase was Gothic or Renaissance in it's construction.  This was a phase of minute and delicate ornaments that resembled the work of a silver smith.  It was used on exteriors, patios, chures, public buildings, furniture, and accessories.  There was also a Desornamentado Phase which was unornamented designs.  Its powerful style was characterized by austerity.  It also exhibited carefully defined proportions and was applied to courts, ecclesiastical and public buildings.

The Escorial was started by Phillip II in 1562 and completed by Juan de Herrera.  It was an imitation of the Temple of Solomon and included a palace and a religious house.  Not only was it a royal place for monarchy, but it was also known for its simplicity, sobriety, and plainness.

Herrera Architecture was named after the state architect, Juan de Herrera.  It was influenced by Italian Renaissance Architects such as Palladio.  This architecture was made up of many classic forms, plain surfaces, and sparse decorations.  There were impressive horizontal unified compositions and a nude use of granite. 

The Baroque style of churrugueresco replaced the desornamentado with something more passionate.  It was promoted by a family of craftsmen named Churriguera and was composed of sculptures, wood carvers, and architects.  The Churrigueresco style of surface decoration was applied to exterior doorways, interior decorations and churches.  The motifs were natural objects and the classical orders were used in unconventional ways.

Residential design for this period was influenced by Moorish design.  Numerous modest rural houses were built, yet the decorations in patios, galleries, doorways, and windows were elaborate in contrast to the plain walls.  The most artistic features were the iron grilles on windows and openings.  One can also associate colored tiles and painted and carved ceilings for the interiors of this time. 

Some of the characteristics of Spanish furniture include simplicity and boldness, heavy proportions, rectangular shapes, repetitive panels that created a pattern, walnut wood, and silver used for ornamentation.  Most of the furniture was made of walnut and pushed up against the walls.  There was a limited number of pieces including chairs, stools, benches, tables, chests, beds, cupboards, and varguenos.

 

Past

Present

Extra Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avJzQ8-QCYI

Peer Reviews

Rachael- Her post was extremely thorough and informative.  The bullet points made it easier to follow and understand, it also made the post more organized.  She did a great job at listing all the main aspects of the buildings, structures, pieces of furniture, and interiors.

Katie-I think she did a great job at describing this time period.  I also like how she included the famous architects of this time.  Her pictures also fit the post very nicely and went along with what she talked about.  I also think she did a good job at describing the furniture.

Italian Renaissance

The Italian Renaissance lasted from 1400-1600.  Renaissance means "rebirth" and that us what this era was all about.  Classical forms were refined and adapted for new uses.  The interiors were furnished with pieces that went along with Gothic and Romanesque design styles.  During this time, the church had become very powerful and corrupt.  There was also a shift from a religious to secular emphasis.  Many reforms were made within the church by a man named Martin Luther.  Art, literature, architecture, and theatre were rising interests during this time along with the invention of the printing press.  Everyone in Italy had a passion and interest in the arts, no matter how wealthy or poor.  Residential design was also beginning to become more popular.  There was also a shift in thought and design, rather than focusing on safety, strength, and protection, people tended to focus more on comfort, convenience, and beauty.  In addition, people tried to move towards humanism through the writings of Dante.

The buildings that were inspired by the medieval concept began adding Ancient Roman style and details.  Most of the emphasis during the Italian Renaissance was on interior architecture instead of the furniture.  They also focused on horizontal lines and designs, as well as symmetry.

One of the finest achievements of the Italian Renaissance was the Italian Renaissance palace.  It showed great power and influence of one of the prominent families in Italy, the Medici family.  the building exhibits symmetry, compound repeat window, and a heavy cornice.  There was a central courtyard, just like the Roman domus, no hallways, and walls pierced with niches.  Residents were located on the 2nd and 3rd floor and there were also businesses and repair shops.

Another great structure from this time period was the Plazzo Davanzati.  It is located in Florence,Italy and is a perfect representation of the transition form Gothic to Early Renaissance.  Its interiors contained frescos, tapestries, and fireplaces, all of which were centered around an interior courtyard.

Plazzo Medici was another famous structure located in Florence, Italy.  The architect was a man named Michelozzo di Bartolommeo.  The floor plans included 3 principles: symmetry which included a central entrance with a vestible leading to the courtyard, Public rooms immediately accessible from the main entrance, and divisions among the Plazzo into smaller apartments.

The most influential architect in all of the Renaissance was Andrea Palladio.  He wrote The Four Books on Architecture as well as designed the Villa Rotondo.  Each side of the structure has a temple front including stairs, six columns, entablature, and pediment.  The rooms were arranged symmetrically around the dome. Palladio was also the one who recommended architectural proportions based on the models from the Classical world.

Another man who was a great architectural influence was Michaelangelo.  He was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer.  His "David" sculpture was one of the most renowned works of the Renaissance, along with the ceiling of the Sistine chapel.

Leonardo Da Vinci was also an impactful man.  He was not only a painter and sculptor, but also an architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, writer, and more.  He was the most diversely gifted person that ever lived.  Some of his most famous works include the painting of The Last Supper (1498 AD), Self Portrait (1512 AD), and the Mona Lisa (1503-1505 AD)

Many of the interiors exhibited contrasting light and shadows from 3D moldings.  There was paneling on furniture and surfaces, frescos which expanded the space, and elaborate turnings for support as well as ornamentation.  Many of the ceilings were coffered and the walls were adorned with decoration.  Some of the interiors had elaborate fireplace mantels and many had decorative moldings.  The floors were either brick, terra-cotta tile, or marble, all places in geometric patterns.

As for the furniture, they were very portable and sparse pieces.  the finest furniture included walnut.  They also had inlays of ivory, lapis, marble, and onyx.

Past

Present

Extra Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLHBHA0sVgE