Sammy: Her blog included a nice mix of a lot of information about the Italian Renaissance. I especially enjoyed the information about the Palazzos and the interior images of the Palazzos, they were decorated beautifully. Another thing that I really liked was the current application image of the kitchen, I would love for the kitchen in my future home to look just like that.
Allysia: I would have liked to see some more information. I felt that her blog was slightly lacking information about this period, the images were nice but descriptions of them would have been helpful. The first image of current application does not actually seem to be a current application, it just looks like it was actually a period interior. The second current application image is beautiful, however I'm not sure how exactly it applies to the Italian Renaissance period?
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance was a period of rebirth of architecture and various art forms. The movement began in Florence, Italy and lasted from around 1400-1600 A.D. Classical forms were refined and adapted for new uses, and one of the main goals of this period was to furnish the beautiful Gothic and Romanesque interiors that had been created in the past.
There was a shift from a religious emphasis to more of a secular emphasis in life, because the Roman Catholic church had become very powerful and corrupt. The church had played an important role in the feudal system (based on the allegiances between lords and vassals). However, the Renaissance brought about a new way of thinking, based more on monetary values than on prior allegiances.
Extra Credit: This link does a nice job of describing that shift from a religious system to a secular system. It also has information about many other aspects of the Italian Renaissance period.
http://www.all-about-renaissance-faires.com/renaissance_info/catholic_church_in_the_renaissance.htm
Daily life became more about client based relationships. Artisans were hired on a long-term basis to create works of art, architecture, and furniture. Some of the most well known artists of all time were creating their works during this period. Those included Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, Donatello, Da Vinci, and Raphael, just to name a few. The art and architecture had an emphasis on the horizontal and symmetry. Art was very humanistic in nature and often consisted of human figures and scenes of human life or stories of the Bible and the Heavens.
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| Michelangelo's Last Judgment; 1537-1541; Fresco; Sistine Chapel, Vatican |
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| Donatello's High Altar of St. Anthony; 1447-1450; Bronze; St. Antonio Basilica, Padua |
Comfort, convenience and beauty became important to people, rather than safety, strength and protection. Everyone, from the rich to the poor, enjoyed art and residential design became popular. The most well known form of residential architecture from this time is the Palazzo. The Palazzo focused on repetition, alternation and progression. The defining features of Palazzos include; three divisions, compound windows, and a heavy projected cornice.
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| Palazzo Nuovo, Capitoline Hill, Rome, Italy |
They also had an interior courtyard, like those seen in the Roman domus. There were no hallways, living was down on the 2nd and 3rd floors, as the 1st floor was often where business was conducted.
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| Interior Courtyard |
Current Day Application:
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| Interior Courtyard in modern home |
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| Interior Courtyard in modern home |
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| Modern home with elements of the Renaissance Palazzo Heavy cornice, divisions |
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| Heavy Cornice style entrance |
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Peer Reviews: The Americas
Cally: Her blog was so informative! I like that she focused on just the Aztecs, because she had such wonderful information about this group of people. When she talked about the pyramids, it actually answered a question that I had thought of in class but forgot to investigate myself. It was about whether or not they used their temples as tombs for the emperors, like the Egyptians did, but I found out, from her information, that they did not. I also really liked her in-text links, they had some great examples. Overall, Cally has the most informative blog that I have looked at so far and makes me want to strive to make mine better.
Alecia: I thought she did a great job of explaining a little bit about each of the cultures of the Americas. Her images were nice of each location and her images of current day applications were good as well. I especially liked the rug with trapezoids on it.
Alecia: I thought she did a great job of explaining a little bit about each of the cultures of the Americas. Her images were nice of each location and her images of current day applications were good as well. I especially liked the rug with trapezoids on it.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
The Americas
History/ Locale:
The history of the Americas took place from about 2000 B.C. to 1520 A.D. What we will consider to be the Americas includes parts of modern day Mexico and South America. The civilization at this time was divided into cultural groups, who were independent of one another and other civilizations. Their actions and design were based only on their own experiences, not adapted from others, such was the case in Europe and Africa at this time period. Most of the settlements of these groups were based around a centralized ceremonial center, as religion was a large factor, if not the most important aspect, of life for these groups. The majority of civilizations in the Americas at this time were polytheistic in their faith and believed in human sacrifice.
Olmecs:
This was the first major civilization in the Americas, it lasted from approximately 2000 B.C. to 200 B.C. In 200 B.C. it came to a sudden violent end, it is unknown why this happened. This people group created hieroglyphic writing, the 1st calendar in the Western Hemisphere, and realistic art work. The Olmec also provide us with the first example of a temple focused city type. Which tells us that the center of daily life for this group, was religion. This group is also well known for their artwork, particularly the sculptures of heads, that were discovered in the city of La Venta.
Extra Credit: http://www.history.com/topics/maya/videos/seven-wonders-the-temple-of-chichen-itza
Incas:
Extra Credit: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/peru_machupicchu
The history of the Americas took place from about 2000 B.C. to 1520 A.D. What we will consider to be the Americas includes parts of modern day Mexico and South America. The civilization at this time was divided into cultural groups, who were independent of one another and other civilizations. Their actions and design were based only on their own experiences, not adapted from others, such was the case in Europe and Africa at this time period. Most of the settlements of these groups were based around a centralized ceremonial center, as religion was a large factor, if not the most important aspect, of life for these groups. The majority of civilizations in the Americas at this time were polytheistic in their faith and believed in human sacrifice.
Olmecs:
This was the first major civilization in the Americas, it lasted from approximately 2000 B.C. to 200 B.C. In 200 B.C. it came to a sudden violent end, it is unknown why this happened. This people group created hieroglyphic writing, the 1st calendar in the Western Hemisphere, and realistic art work. The Olmec also provide us with the first example of a temple focused city type. Which tells us that the center of daily life for this group, was religion. This group is also well known for their artwork, particularly the sculptures of heads, that were discovered in the city of La Venta.
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| Olmec city of La Venta |
Mayas:
This civilization flourished for about 1800 years, from 300 B.C. to 1521 A.D. They were destroyed by the Spanish conquest of 1519. One of the most famous Maya landmarks is Chichen Itza, located in present day Yucatan, Mexico. This was also a temple centered city, whose name means "mouth of the well of the Itza."
| The temple "Castillo" |
This link takes you to a very interesting video about the temple at Chichen Itza.
Aztecs:
This group, which thrived from 1150-1520 A.D., is best known for the city of Tenochtitlan. Tenochtitlan was the center capitol of Aztec civilization. This city was actually a major engineering feat that would be difficult to accomplish with today's technology, considering the fact that it was built in the middle of a lake. The land had to literally be brought in from outside, builders had to gather soil and mud and build up the land mass to create a vast piece of land, that in the end housed approximately 3 million people. They created the a system of raised gardening in wetlands, called "chinampas", which is where the idea hydroponics originated. The city was conquered by the Spanish in 1520, which unfortunately brought this group to it's demise.
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| Current day "chinampas", which would have looked very similar in Tenochtitlan |
Incas:
The Incas were the largest empire in Pre-Columbian America. The most famous location of Incan culture, is Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is located in present day Peru. This former city, is located in a seismically unstable area, so it is a miracle that it is still standing today. Another amazing fact about this location is that it was built entirely without using mortar, but is still standing strong today. This location also has trapezoid shaped openings, for windows and doors which is a shape that we have not seen used up until this time.
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| Machu Picchu in the mountains of Peru |
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| Trapezoid openings |
Video about Machu Picchu
Current Day Applications:
| Hydroponics systems for growing |
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| Trapezoidal Architecture |
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Peer Reviews: Gothic
This week I reviewed Alex Richardson and Alexandra Ferrara
Alex Richardson: Her blog was spot on, the look is so professional and she really has a great understanding of the Gothic period. She is very correct in saying that architecture was built with the purpose of affecting individuals' mood and spirit in a religious way. Her images were wonderful and the views of the interiors of the cathedrals were absolutely beautiful. I also like that she said the structures were built as a way to reach God, it is amazing that they could even construct such huge intricate structures at this time. The only thing that I was unsure about was her third current application image, I did not see what she thought was Gothic about it, so it would just take some explaining for me to understand. Overall, her blog is awesome!
Alexandra Ferrara: I thought that Alexandra's blog was interesting, she did a good job of covering multiples areas of Gothic design. It was interesting learning more about the domestic interiors because I did not personally look into that area of Gothic design for my blog. The images of the furniture that she found were exactly what I would have imagined seeing inside the interiors of this time period. I also liked the current application images.
Alex Richardson: Her blog was spot on, the look is so professional and she really has a great understanding of the Gothic period. She is very correct in saying that architecture was built with the purpose of affecting individuals' mood and spirit in a religious way. Her images were wonderful and the views of the interiors of the cathedrals were absolutely beautiful. I also like that she said the structures were built as a way to reach God, it is amazing that they could even construct such huge intricate structures at this time. The only thing that I was unsure about was her third current application image, I did not see what she thought was Gothic about it, so it would just take some explaining for me to understand. Overall, her blog is awesome!
Alexandra Ferrara: I thought that Alexandra's blog was interesting, she did a good job of covering multiples areas of Gothic design. It was interesting learning more about the domestic interiors because I did not personally look into that area of Gothic design for my blog. The images of the furniture that she found were exactly what I would have imagined seeing inside the interiors of this time period. I also liked the current application images.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
The Gothic Period
The Gothic period was from approximately 1140-1500 A.D. The Gothic period was mainly based on the new styles of architecture that were created at that time. The main type of building that was constructed were Cathedrals, which had very tall arches that reached into the heavens and many works of art created out of stained glass. However, what was created during the Gothic period was not all entirely new ideas, much of the design was based off of ideas from the previous, Romanesque period.
Another interesting fact about this period is that during that time it was not called the "Gothic period" they just called it modern art. It was not until later that it picked up this name, which was first used during the Renaissance period. Those individuals who arrived at this name did so because they felt that the art and architecture of this time was nearly the exact opposite of what was created by the classical Roman style. "Gothic" actually came from the Goths, which were the people who had overrun the Roman empire. This made people of the Renaissance think that the Goths had brought this new design period with them when they conquered the Roman Empire, but they were actually incorrect.
The First Gothic Cathedral:
Somewhere between 1132-1144 A.D. a new cathedral was constructed near Paris, it was named "The Abbey of St. Denis". At that time the abbey was ruled by a great abbot named Suger, who was greatly interested in art of every kind. Suger wanted to make his church the finest and the most beautifully decorated in the Christian world. Although Abbot Suger was a monk dedicated to a life of holiness, he did not believe that God's house should look bare and poor. Suger was fond of people--from the king to the beggar--and wanted them all to come to the services at his church. He insisted on rebuilding the much older St. Denis Church, which was small and old-fashioned. Suger would not let any difficulty stand in his way. He arranged for the stone to be quarried--dug from the ground. He needed long wooden beams for the roof but was told such great timbers were not to be had; so he went out himself and searched in the forests until he found trees big enough to supply the beams he wanted. In the end he succeeded in getting the church built. It was dedicated in the presence of King Louis VII, on July 11, 1144.
The Cathedrals that were constructed during the Gothic period had a few defining features that viewers of such buildings will notice immediately. Those include the pointed arch, rib vault, and the flying buttress.
Another interesting fact about this period is that during that time it was not called the "Gothic period" they just called it modern art. It was not until later that it picked up this name, which was first used during the Renaissance period. Those individuals who arrived at this name did so because they felt that the art and architecture of this time was nearly the exact opposite of what was created by the classical Roman style. "Gothic" actually came from the Goths, which were the people who had overrun the Roman empire. This made people of the Renaissance think that the Goths had brought this new design period with them when they conquered the Roman Empire, but they were actually incorrect.
The First Gothic Cathedral:
Somewhere between 1132-1144 A.D. a new cathedral was constructed near Paris, it was named "The Abbey of St. Denis". At that time the abbey was ruled by a great abbot named Suger, who was greatly interested in art of every kind. Suger wanted to make his church the finest and the most beautifully decorated in the Christian world. Although Abbot Suger was a monk dedicated to a life of holiness, he did not believe that God's house should look bare and poor. Suger was fond of people--from the king to the beggar--and wanted them all to come to the services at his church. He insisted on rebuilding the much older St. Denis Church, which was small and old-fashioned. Suger would not let any difficulty stand in his way. He arranged for the stone to be quarried--dug from the ground. He needed long wooden beams for the roof but was told such great timbers were not to be had; so he went out himself and searched in the forests until he found trees big enough to supply the beams he wanted. In the end he succeeded in getting the church built. It was dedicated in the presence of King Louis VII, on July 11, 1144.
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| St.Denis Cathedral near Paris |
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| Interior of St.Denis |
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| Stained glass telling stories of the Bible in St.Denis |
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| More intricate stained glass in St.Denis Cathedral |
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| The "Rose Window" in the St.Denis Cathedral |
The Cathedrals that were constructed during the Gothic period had a few defining features that viewers of such buildings will notice immediately. Those include the pointed arch, rib vault, and the flying buttress.
Pointed Arch Rib Vault
Flying Buttress
The flying buttress was incorporated as a system of hidden supports for the weight of the architecture. These allowed a more open feeling that meant more windows could be added to architecture so that more natural light could be used in the spaces. This was a major sense of importance during this time period because light was seen as pure and heavenly, almost as if heaven were reaching down and touching earth.
Current Applications:
Stained Glass is still an artform that is used by many artists today, whether they be professionals or just DYI crafters, it is something for people of many skill levels to do.
Extra Credit:
This is a link to the specific timeline of the Gothic period, including all major events and pieces of artwork. http://www.wga.hu/tours/gothic/timeline.html
Current Applications:
Stained Glass is still an artform that is used by many artists today, whether they be professionals or just DYI crafters, it is something for people of many skill levels to do.
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| A current day pool house with Gothic influences, i.e. the pointed arches above doorway |
Extra Credit:
This is a link to the specific timeline of the Gothic period, including all major events and pieces of artwork. http://www.wga.hu/tours/gothic/timeline.html
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Peer Reviews: Islamic
Allison S and Maggie: Neither of these individuals did a post on the Islamic period so I could not review them.
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