Why Does Renaissance Architecture Look Like That? A Survey of Classical Architecture, Part III

Architecture professor Richard Economakis continues his series about how classical architecture evolved through the ages. Part III focuses on the Italian Renaissance.
About the Program:
A Survey of Classical Architecture is a new four-part lecture series charting the development of classical architecture, from its emergence in Ancient Greece and Rome, to its rebirth in the Italian Renaissance, elaboration in the 17th and 18th centuries, and reaffirmation in modern times. The lectures look closely at influential architectural works and the contributions of the treatise writers, from the Roman author Vitruvius to Renaissance architects Alberti, Serlio, Vignola and Palladio. They proceed to an overview of the later treatises by architects Perrault, Chambers and Gibbs, and continue with the works of contemporary theorists Porphyrios, Tzonis and Lefaivre, Westfall, and others. The series concludes with a survey of exemplary classical works from the 20th and 21st centuries.
This third installment in the series analyzes how the rediscovery of Ancient Roman architectural texts inspired a new period of architectural splendor known as the Italian Renaissance. The session opens with an analysis of Alberti's De Re Aedificatoria (a.k.a. Ten Books on Building), starting with the organization of the treatise, his mural (as opposed to columnar) outlook, and treatment of the formal elements. The course continues with a discussion of Serlio's contributions, including his organization of the columnar types as a 'cast of characters', his description of architecture as dramatic play, and his approach to proportioning and articulating the classical elements. The lecture ends with descriptions of Vignola and Palladio's treatises, stressing their modular approach and refinements.
00:23 The 15th Century: Alberti
12:46 Serlio
18:39 The 16th Century: Vignola
30:25 Palladio
39:00 Scamozzi
40:51 The 16th Century Late Renaissance: Mannerism
42:03 Raphael
45:55 Romano
48:32 Michelangelo
About the Speaker:
Richard Economakis is a Professor at the School of Architecture of the University of Notre Dame. He served as Director of Graduate Studies until 2022, when he was appointed Interim Associate Dean of Research, Scholarship, and Creative Work. He is also a member of the ICAA's Board of Directors. He received both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Cornell University, and has worked in classical and traditional firms in New York, New Haven, Athens, and London. While in London, he worked as an editor at Academy Editions, where he produced monographs on the works of contemporary classical architects, and the books Building Classical and Acropolis Restoration. This last edited book was the first to fully document the restoration of the Acropolis monuments in Athens since work began in 1975. He is the author of another book, Acropolis, which surveys the history and architecture of the Periclean Monuments. His most recent edited book, Durability in Construction, was selected as the July 2015 ‘Book of the Month’ by the Royal Institute of British Architects.
In the Spring of 2021, Prof. Economakis co-edited the inaugural issue of Notre Dame’s journal ANTA, together with Michael Mesko. Prof. Economakis has led summer programs for Notre Dame in Greece and Britain, and a 2006 ICAA tour of Ancient and Neoclassical Greece. He is currently engaged in research on the origin of the forms of the Doric Order, the preliminary research for which was published in The Classicist No. 12, in 2015. The work builds on ten seasons of experience as site architect in archaeological excavations on the island of Crete, in Greece. As principal of Richard Economakis Architectural Design, he has produced projects in the US, Central America and Europe. Since 2007 he has realized a number of buildings for the award-winning new town of Cayalá in Guatemala, in collaboration with the firm Estudio Urbano of Guatemala City. His design for a Civic Hall at Cayalá received a 2013 Palladio Award. His recent proposal for the construction of Refugee Villages in Greece and the Mediterranean received the Award of Excellence from the International Making Cities Livable organization, in 2016.
Sponsor:
The ICAA would like to thank our Lead Sponsor for Continuing Education courses: Uberto Construction.
Credits:
Thumbnail image adapted from "Duomo, Firenze" by Clément Bardot, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

[@ApexAlphaFoxtrot]

Professor's lecture help so much to understand pivoting points in the coming back of Classical tradition From Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472) - Brought back the Vitruvius's treatise, emphasizing 2 aspects which are 'structural' and 'aesthetic' - Incorporated the Classical ornaments to Medieval buildings, mainly religious and royal ones Alberti's idea to complete Vitruvius's work influenced Serlio (1475-1554), Vignola (1507-1573), Palladio (1508-1580) and Scamozzi (1548-1616) - Serlio brought up the analogy of the Classical orders to dramatic roles (farmer, gentleman, maiden, matron, vestal) - Vignola and Palladio contribute to the main treatises we are using today - Scamozzi brought angle volutes into the mix Then the mannerism movements starting from - Bramante's round shaped Tempietto - Raphael's (Bramante's pupil) interior design of Chigi chapel, playfully bend the rules to fit the round area - Romano's (Raphael's pupil) Pallazzo del Te in Mantua, engaging elements such as dropping triglyphs, pediment breaking keystones, etc. - Michelangelo's Laurentian library's entrance staircase, expressive uses of Classical elements such as protruding door's pediment, flowing brackets under the columns, etc. - Shifting to Baroque with the more flamboyant expressive design by Buontalenti's Porta delle Suppliche

[@vaevictis3612]

Would you plan to at least shortly review non-Italian Renaissance architecture, such as expressions in Central Europe (Weser Renaissance, South German Renaissance (in stone and timber), Polish Mannerism), French Renaissance, Spanish Renaissance (particularly pre-Herrerian), English and Scottish forms, etc? A lot of the time the description of Renaissance architecture just focuses on Italy (mostly Northern one at that), and ends there. Of course, the Renaissance and classicism in general, was born there, but to stop there would only be scratching the massive depth and variety of expression of Renaissance architecture that was created beyond the Alps.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

This is a survey.

[@ladziaapapruha5618]

X "..clearly served for Palladio as inspiration .". _____________ Palladio, with his idea won the competition for Basilica in1546 (were Serlio participated as well) - Serlio published his IV Book later on, in 1547. Is sonething wrong here? * .

[@suzanneross9389]

Thomas walker architecture

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I never liked Alberti in particular, or Florentine or Tudor “Renaissance” architecture much. It’s basically just sticking some classical-looking ornaments onto medieval buildings. Modern architecture in the 20th C. has been similar, building plain boxes, then sticking weird stuff on them and calling it decoration.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

Those tall column bases, 1/3 of the shaft height, don’t look classical at all to me, they’re nowhere found in classical Greece.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

Pedestals, I meant.

[@Lisabeets]

Vitruvius documented Roman classicism. You don't get the Greek revival until after Stuart and Revett.