RENAISSANCE ART

Renaissance was the period of economic progress where cities were built. The term “Renaissance” came
from the French language meaning, “rebirth.” In this period, another word was created for man. There was a
classical learning in the study of the ancient Greek and Roman texts. The period stirred enthusiasm for the
philosophy and artistic values of the ancients. The ideals of classicism- balance, harmony, proportion and
intellectual order became the artistic standard of the time.

PAINTING AND SCULPTURE

An important characteristic of the period was the spirit of scientific inquiry and investigation. This new
and vital approach to the material world led to empiricism, which lay on the evidence of the senses. The artists
strove for more naturalistic portrayal of man and developed new techniques such as modeling and shading for
three-dimensional effect. The new interest in the scientific investigation made man/artist observe and consider
man’s figure. The artists were interested in man’s body as well as in what lay beneath the sinews, the muscles and
the veins.

Another feature was the new concept of space which manifested itself in painting and architecture as
geometric or linear perspective. The experiments of artist led to the formulation of geometric or linear perspective
in the principal parts/lines of a painting converges of a point on the horizon called the vanishing point with aerial
perspective in which the effects of atmosphere are seen in size and clarity of objects in proportion to their distance
from the viewer.

The Renaissance artist tried other mediums in art. In portraits the human face became more expressive with
the use of sfumato, a modeling technique which consisted of blurring sharp outlines with subtle tonal gradations
This imparted a mysterious enigmatic quality which hinted as the spiritual dimensions of the subject The figures
assumed more dramatic postures in painting as in sculpture.

Architecture

Architecture is the art and science or building. When one speaker of architecture it would always by
associated with houses churches commercial buildings or any others structure Professionals have come have with
more specific definitions. Architecture is the art and science of designing and building structures or larges groups
of structures in keeping with aesthetic and functional criteria. Group Moreover is it the art of designing and
constructing a building which will serve as definite function, ranging from providing the simplest shelter to meeting
the technological demands of our modern cities.

In all definitions we find that architecture is a complex matter since it falls under two major field art and
science. Art is unlimited. Anything can be considered an art. Architecture as an art aims to satisfy the requirements
of aesthetics of a building without disregarding the need for sound structure with complete utilities. Designing a
building, however, is an art that is controlled by the accurate principles of science. It means that what is
scientifically possible will contribute to a secure structure. Science, therefore, is an inevitable component of
architecture.

Compared to a rather similar or close area of study which is Civil Engineering, architecture as a profession
seeks to satisfy the requirements of beauty, utility, and strength. Civil Engineering, on the other hand,
concentrates more on the utility and strength of structure without further regard as to how the building will look
like.
 2 Types of Architecture:

1. Historic architecture- is the combination of past principles and styles.

2. Contemporary architecture- is generally speaking the architecture of the present time. The term
contemporary architecture is also applied to a range of styles of recently built structures and space which
are optimized for current use.

The different types of Architecture can be traced from ancient civilizations. These include Egypt, Greece
and Rome. They applied their own techniques to come up with original styles. Each is influenced by factors such as
geographical location, climate, geology, historical, social and religious aspects.

Egyptian Architecture’s most outstanding structures include pyramids, temples and mastabas, among
others. Their massive funerary monuments built of stone for permanence, features post and-lintel construction.

Greek architecture was essentially columnar and trabeated, and this gave it that straightforward
character in which the constructive system i9s self-evident. Greece developed the three types of columns.
Normally called an order, which are the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. Today, these orders are used in government
and institutional buildings patterned after Greek architecture. Examples are the Post Office in Manila, the Senate
Building, and the White House in Washington, D.C., among others.

Roman architecture was greatly influenced by the Greek. The limited Greek patterns and developed them
into better ones. The Romans are also credited for the development of the use of vaults and arches.

The Etruscans, who were the first inhabitants of West Italy, were created for the use of the first radiating
arch, and the invention of a new order called Tuscan.

Architecture has its influences on man and at the same time on design. Their influences are:

1. Geographical 4. Religious
2. Geological 5. Social
3. Climatic 6. Historical

When we speak of influence, there is the physical, emotional and intellectual needs that affect us modern man.

Architecture is a vast form of art which gives the work the character of an artistic creation; makes
structure appeal to the emotion; stimulates spiritual aspect in the life of man and his environment. The kinds of
architecture according to functions are:

1. Interior Design – creation or design of the interior of a house to suit the personality,
needs and lifestyle of persons living in it.
2. Landscaping – design and development of landscape and garden
to capture the needs of the environment.
3. Fine Arts – purely aesthetic art as distinguished from useful art.

4. Urban Planning – it is a bridge between the professions of urban planning and

architecture. The primary concern of urban design has been with the physical form of
the city. Urban planning may manifest itself in the cultural context of urban design.

The Styles of Architecture

A. Egyptian Architecture (3,200 B.C. to First Century A.D.)
The gigantic scale which distinguishes Egyptian Architecture was made possible not only by the materials,
but also by the methods of quarrying, transporting and raising enormous blocks of stones into position.
Quarrying was done with copper tools and by the use of timber wedges which, when swollen by water,
split the blocks way from the natural rock.
B. Greek Architecture (350-30 B.C.)

1. Hellenic Period (650-323 B.C.)

Although temples were then the chief building type, the earliest resembled the Aegean megaron in plan
and in having timber laced, fun-dried brick walls, stucco covered, on stone dadocs, timber enframed
portals (the origin of the door architrave), narrowing a little toward the top, timber antae or upright
protecting the free ends of the naos wall, where they embraced the pronaos or porch and a low-pitched
roof showing pediments or gables over the narrow ends. Greek architecture was essentially columnar
and trabeated, and this gave it that simple straightforward character in which the constructive system is
self-evident.
2. Hellenistic Period (323-30 B.C.)

This period provided much of the decorative inspiration of some Roman building types. Greek Hellenic
architecture had mostly been of a religious character, but from the fourth century B.C. onwards, public
buildings multiplied in type and number and passed into permanent form. They were dignified and
gracious structures.

C. Roman Architecture (300 B.C. – A.D. 365)

The Romans adopted the columnar and trabeated style of the Greeks, and also developed the
arch and the vault from the beginnings made by the Etruscans. This combined use of column, beam and
arch is the keynote of the Roman style in its earliest stages.

The Romans added as Fourth and Fifth orders of Architecture the Tuscan and the composite
orders, the first three orders being the Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian.

D. Romanesque Architecture

The Romanesque style of the tenth to the twelfth centuries was remarkable for the tentative use
of a new constructive principle, the deliberate articulation of structure, in which each construction part
played a designed role in establishing equilibrium. The general character of the Romanesque style is sober
and dignified, while formal massing depends on the grouping of towers and the projection of transepts
and choir. The character depends on the employment of valuating, based initially on Roman methods.

E. Byzantine Architecture (5th Century to the Present Day)

 The character of Byzantine Architecture, which dates from the fifth century to the present day,
determined by the novel development of the dome to cover polygonal and square plans for churches,
tombs and baptisteries.

The practice of using a domical system of roof construction is in strong contrast to the early
Christian timber tussles. It may be broadly stated that the Basilican type of plan belongs to early Christian
architecture, and the domed, centralized type of plan to the Byzantine.

F. Early Christian Architecture (313-800)

The Early Christians, as Roman craftsmen, continued old Roman traditions, but prosperity was
declining and it was natural that the materials from Roman temples had become useless for their original
purposes. Further in their churches, modeled on Roman basilicas, they used old columns which, by various
devices, were brought to a uniform height.

On this account, although extremely interesting from an archaeological point of view, early
Christian buildings hardly have the architecture value of a style produced by the solution of constructive
buildings. Basilican churches had either closely spaced columns carrying the entablature. The Basilican
church with three or five aisles, covered by a timber roof, is typical of the Early Christian style.

G. Islamic Architecture (7th century to the Present Day)

Islamic Architecture is a product of a major historic event

- the rapid conquest of diverse territories by a people with no architectural tradition and the conquest
synthesis of styles under one philosophy – but in many different circumstances. Islamic Architecture is
fundamentally centered upon God. At its heart is the Mosque, and inward-looking building where the
prime purpose in contemplation and prayer. It is a space removed from immediate impact of wordly
affairs. In here, there is no positive object of attention or of adoration.

H. Renaissance Architecture (15th to 19th Century)

Architecture during the Renaissance was brought to the construction of aristocratic
residences, or palazzos, as well as churches. Usually three stories high, they were symmetrical,
with flat, rusticated façade and regular ornamentation. This generally consisted of arches above
the windows and between them at regular intervals, flat columns called pilasters which capitals
from the classical orders. The long, straight line of the root strengthened the massive, horizontal
emphasis of the structure.

Renaissance architecture observed objectives, mathematical standards of measurement

and proportion, in accordance with the scientific spirit of the age. The structures not only revived
the classical orders, but the ideas of balance, symmetry and proportion as well.