…a
Continuing History of Western Architecture
Architecture of Exuberance: Catherine Palace, St.
Petersburg, Russia
Baroque
began as decorated Renaissance, to say it simply. “For example,
for the architects of the Renaissance the facade of a church or a palace had
been a rectangle, or a series of rectangles each of which had corresponded to a
story of the building. For Baroque architects the facade was merely that part
of the building that faced outwards, one element of a single entity…“ (1) to be decorated with pilasters and cornices,
pilars and curliques totally ignoring what was happening on the inside of the
building.
Weis Church, Bavaria, Rococo: C, Bill Lowe Gallery
The
Rococo Architectural style was an outgrowth of the Baroque often called Late
Baroque. It was a style, “that originated in Paris in the early 18th century but was soon adopted
throughout France and later in other countries, principally Germany and Austria. It is characterized by
lightness, elegance, and an exuberant use of curving, natural forms in
ornamentation.” (2)
Generous swirls and passionate curlicues adorned every surface regardless
of purpose.
By
the late 18th Century, the designs of Italian architect Palladio were
reexamined in England and, “spread by the English
translation of his I Quattro Libri dell'Architettura, and pattern books such as Vitruvius
Brittanicus by Colen Campbell. This Palladian
architecture and continued classical imagery would in turn go on to influence Thomas Jefferson and other early architects of the United States in their search for a
new national architecture.” This new
American architecture we now call Federal.(3)
Artists
and architecture wanted to abandon the decorative formality of the period. They felt strongly that form follows
function. The Arts and Crafts movement
influenced the fluidity and freedom of Art Nouveau as did the just rediscovered
Japanese Art.
LINKS:
Rococo
Style (2)
Rococo
Architecture: Late Baroque
History
of Architecture. Art Nouveau(4)
Baroque is beautiful but distracting. I guess if you went to a baroque church day after day, you'd eventually be able to ignore it to pray or meditate.
ReplyDeleteAntonio Gaudi's buildings are so fascinating. Living, breathing works of art.
ReplyDeleteBaroque can be like too much dessert, overly sweet and cloying. If done right, it can be nice. There are some "wedding cake" houses in Charleston that I like.
ReplyDeleteI took a short class on art and architecture to be a docent at a museum. I loved learning about these. And Gaudi is amazing. We so enjoyed his work in Barcelona.
ReplyDeleteLooks like my house.
ReplyDeleteThe Arts & Crafts buildings are great.
ReplyDeleteI just read Flood by David Hewson. You would like this book if you like a mystery, Italy and the Renaissance.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos and what gorgeous architecture!
ReplyDeleteThat is so interesting. I loved looking at the photos. We did enjoy seeing Gaudi's work in Spain.
ReplyDelete