Comparative History of Architecture

Renaissance & Baroque Architecture

German Jordanian University

Student: Housam Alzoubi
Doctor: Janset Shawash
Table of content:

 Renaissance Architecture.
 Baroque Architecture.
 Comparison.
 References.
 Renaissance

Renaissance took place between the 14th century to the 17th

century in the European culture of ancient Rome and Greek.
The word “Renaissance” means rebirth of classical
philosophy, literature and art. at this era people lost faith in
the church and started focusing on human beings in a
cultural movement called Humanism during the 14 th century,
it’s idea was that man is the center of his own universe and
we should appreciate the achievements of man in arts,
literature and sciences.

Humanism:
 It took human nature in all of its various manifestations
and achievements as its subject.
 Unity and compatibility of philosophical and theological
schools’ systems.
 Emphasized the dignity of man.
 Inspire free inquiry and criticism.
 Inspire a new confidence of human thoughts and
creations.

Most famous artists, intellectuals and sciences that grew in

the renaissance are:
 Leonardo da Vinci (Italian painter, architect,
inventor) famous for his many art works and most
importantly “The Mona Lisa” and “The Last
Supper”.

Last Supper Mona Liza

 Galileo Galilei ( Italian astronomer, physicist and

engineer) he worked with telescopes and with it he
could describe moons and planets and details of
space objects. Most important inventions are “The
Sector” which offered a safer way for gunners to
elevate their cannons accurately in addition to the
construction of any regular polygon. Another
invention is the “Thermometer” to measure heat
and temperature, his idea of the thermometer
 depends on the expansion of air in a bulb to move
water in a tube which by time develops a scale to
measure heat.

The Sector Thermometer

 William Shakespeare (National poet and a

playwright) one of his most famous plays is “Romeo
and Juliet”.

Romeo and Juliet Book Shakespeare

Since this time focused on humans and thoughts many
inventions appeared and the most important are:

 Printing Press (developed in Germany in 1455) it is

a mechanical device for applying pressure to
an inked surface resting upon a print medium such
as paper or cloth, thereby transferring the ink. It
marked a dramatic improvement on earlier printing
methods in which the cloth, paper or other
medium was brushed or rubbed repeatedly to
achieve the transfer of ink. It is associated with
Gutenberg were the first bible was printed in 1456.
Printing press allowed for spread of knowledge
around Europe.

First Printing Press

  The clock which allowed for more precise
measurements and changed the daily life which
was guided back then by the Church.

Bell Tower of Parish Church Table Clock

 Columbus discovered America in the Renaissance,

attempted to prove that the sun is the center of the
planetary system.

 Advances in the fields of chemistry and medicine.

Principles: focused on humanity and emotion, embraced

some of Greek and Roman arts, paintings done on wet
plaster became popular because it gave depth to the
paintings, sculptures are in the human form, architecture
reached new heights of design.

In architecture historians divided the Renaissance into three

phases: First, early Renaissance also known as Quattrocento.
Second, high Renaissance.
Third, Mannerism.

Quattrocento (classical details and ornamentation)

 Basilica di San Lorenzo: it was designed by Filippo

Brunelleschi a famous Italian architect but the building
was not completed until after his death. It was
Florence’s cathedral before the official seat of the
bishop was moved to Santa Reparata.

inside and outside details of the church

Decorations are made of bronze and arches were made of

polychrome stuccos that set above the bronze doors. Near
the alter are two bronze pulpits created by Donatello which
was his last work before death.
 Pulpit in front of the alter Paintings

 Santa Maria Novella: it was completed in 1920 and is an

important example of Florentine renaissance and the
most important and iconic part of it is the huge façade,
six graves of noble citizens where embedded in the
façade after being a normal church with a bare façade
and covered with white and green marble. The façade
reflects the knowledge in mathematics, nature and
shapes and geometrical shapes and the relationships
between them (two large pillars on four columns). The
left side of the façade is of bronze and the right side is of
marble with a large sun in the center of the façade.
 Front façade and the geometry behind it

High Renaissance (contemporary buildings and roman

circular temples)

 San Pietro in Montorio: built by the Italian architect

Donato Barmante. One of the first buildings of high
Renaissance which speaks harmony, symmetry,
simplicity structure and architecture and this style was
inspired by classical antique temples especially ones in
Rome. This temple is circular in shape with an exterior of
sixteen Doric columns right at the entrance. It consists
of two floors, the ground one called “Cella” and the first
floor with many circular balconies.

Exterior of building Interior of building

The dome is made of concrete and the radius is equal to the
height of it and it shows a clear relationship with domes
made in Pantheon. The interior of the dome has niches cut
out to show strength of the structure and solidity since they
provide a very nice reflect with light and shadow.

interior decorations
  Gardens of Bomarzo: it is a garden in a wooden valley of
many large sculptures and small buildings located
among the natural vegetation of the valley. It was made
to be a work of art. the sculptures seem to be scattered
around the area an not thought of in a rational plan and
this decision of the layout is not known why to be
chosen but maybe they were as a contrast of the perfect
symmetrical layout of the gardens nearby.

The gate One of the sculptors

The sculptures are: a fountain, a winged horse, two sirens, a

whale, two bears, a dragon attacked by lions, a turtle, giant
human, a sleeping nymph, a giant fruit, basins.

The monuments are: a leaning house, the temple of eternity

which is a mix of classical, Renaissance and Etruscan styles.

Mannerist period (solid and spatial relationships, free and

imaginative rhythms)
  Capitoline hill: by the Italian sculptor, painter and
architect Michelangelo Buonarroti which was a
monument that still had some parts of the old temples,
the square shaped plan is of palazzos, the center one is
the city hall of Rome while the other two are museums.

Front Façade Plan

Summary of Renaissance:
 Characteristics: symmetry, proportions, geometry and
regularity of parts of classical antiquity of ancient
Roman architecture. Order in arrangement of columns
and pilasters as well as the use of semi-circular arches,
hemispherical domes, and the use of niches in a more
complex proportional system.
 The plans: are mostly square planned and proportions
are based on the width of of an aisle in a church.
 Columns: the types used are Tuscan, Doric, Ionic,
Corinthian and Composite. The placing of them can be
structural to support or just a decorative order.
 Arches: semi-circular arches supported on columns with
capitals. They used arches and domes which they took
from Roman and Greek architecture.
 Vaults: vaults with no ribs and are semi-circular or
segmental unlike Gothic vaults which are rectangular
these are square shaped.
 Baroque
This style began in the late 16 th century in Italy. This style
took the Renaissance methods of architecture and used it in
a new theatrical way which was often to express the triumph
of the catholic churches. Many new explorations of the way
they form the plans or the use of light and shadow where
used and discovered. In Italy baroque meant pedantic little
dialectic values while in Spain it was more of irregular shaped
pearls. Many inclined lines and broken lines appeared in
plans instead of the straight lines of classicism and
decorations became more important but also more
complicated. They wanted to reflect the wealth and power of
the church for religious superiority that happened.

Inventions in Baroque period

 Steam Engine: Thomas Savery had the idea and design

but Thomas Newcoman actually made it happen and
fully functional. They were first majorly used in pumping
water from deep mine shafts. They are also known as
“fire engines”. They became a primary source of power
for factories around Europe. 

The steam engine

  Blood Transfusion: The first research into blood
transfusion dates back to the 17th Century when British
physician William Harvey fully described the circulation
and properties of blood in 1628. The first blood
transfusions were also attempted around this time,
although these were often unsuccessful and proved fatal
in humans.” but now they have modified the blood
transfusion and now up to 45% of critically ill patients
are transfused with blood.

Artists in Baroque period

 Michelangelo Caravaggio: one of the most influential

Baroque painters. His famous painting “Bacchus”.

Represents naturalism
 Rembrandt Van Rijn: his famous painting is “Self Portrait
with Two Circles”.
 The use of circles and not only straight lines
 Peter Paul Rubens: his work was highly influenced by
historical and mythological ideals. His famous painting is
“The Garden of Love” was a symbol of love for his
second wife, he used many Renaissance elements.
Time periods of Baroque architecture:
 Early Baroque
 High Baroque
 Late Baroque

Early Baroque

 St. Peter’s Basilica: comprises of 3 main structures, the

basilica, the frontal terrace and the square shaped from.
The basilica symbolizes a Latin cross with one of the
arms being slightly longer than the other three. The
piers and dome connect with each other and support
each other where the dome is topped with a lantern and
surrounded by flanked Corinthian columns and
decorated with patterns of heavy concrete masonry and
this dome is supported by 4 thick piers and a series of
adjoining arches form a mass like a tunnel that supports
the roof from the inside.

Outside of the basilica

The interior shows wealth of catholic churches with the huge
mosaics spread around and 45 alters 11 chapels that this
basilica consists of and beneath there are almost 100 tombs
of 91 popes. It also contains church ornaments statues, papal
mitres and various objects which are usually gifts of kings or
princes.

interior

High Baroque (famous names Bernini and Borromini)

 Church of Sant Andrea al Quirinale: Barnini’s most

famous building on one of the 7 hills of Rome.

 Church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane: building by

Francesco Borromini with 4 fountains also on Quirinal
hill.
Characteristics: baroque paintings are brilliant, colorful and
passionate, they are fascinated with light and dark
backgrounds, dramatic movements and facial expressions,
use of marble and oil on canvas paintings, creating a feeling
of illusion with what is real and what is apparent.

Comparison between Renaissance and Baroque

Renaissance Baroque
Clarity Ambiguity
Uniformity Variety
Regularity Contrast
Emphasis on Surface Spatial Plasticity
Human scale Superhuman
Easily Perceived Mystery
Cerebral Emotional
 References

 History.com Editors. (2018, April 4). Renaissance. Retrieved

from https://www.history.com/topics/renaissance/renaissance.
 Khan, H. (2012, December 10). RENAISSANCE COMPLETE
PRESENTATION. Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/HameelKhan/renaissance-
complete-presentation.
 M. (2013, May 22). Firenze Basilica di San Lorenzo1. Retrieved
from https://www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda/firenze-
basilica-di-san-lorenzo1.
 Turner, A. (2014, November 3). Renaissance architecture.
Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/Angie_malik/renaissance-
architecture-41080539.
 Inventions. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://17thcenturyartandinventions.weebly.com/inventions.ht
ml.
 Ying, T. J. (2015, February 10). St Peter's Basilica. Retrieved
from https://www.slideshare.net/tayjitying/st-peters-basilica-
44498613.
 Bhatt, R. (2017, September 19). Baroque Architecture.
Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/RohitBhatt15/baroque-
architecture-79926330.