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Renaissance Architecture: The cultural movement called the Renaissance (which literally means re-birth) was just that in architecture, a rebirth of the Roman traditions of design.
It was expressed in a new emphasis on rational clarity and regularity of parts, arranged in simple mathematical proportions and in a conscious revival of Roman architecture. To the 'man in the street' the style was simply columns and symmetry as opposed to the stone work and irregular gabled facades which preceded the new style.
The movement began in Florence and central Italy in the early 15th century, as an expression of Humanism. In Italy, four phases of Renaissance style can be identified:
When the Renaissance spirit was finally exported into Spain, France, England, the Low Countries, Germany, Sweden and Poland, the style made its appearance fully formed. However, it had to compromise with local traditions and climates, subsequently its phases are not so clearly distinguished in individual buildings.
Hatfield House, built for Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of SalisburyRobert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury ( June 1, 1563 May 24, 1612), son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and half-brother of Thomas Cecil, 1st Earl of Exeter, statesman, spymaster and minister to Elizabeth I of England and James I of England. Robert Cec, 1607 - 1611
In EnglandEngland is the largest, the most populous, and the most densely populated of the four " Home Nations" which make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK). Occupying the south-eastern portion of the island of Great Britain, England the first great exponent of Renaissance architecture was Inigo JonesInigo Jones ( July 15, 1573 June 21, 1652) is regarded as the first significant English architect. He also made valuable contributions to stage design. Beyond the fact that he was born in the vicinity of Smithfield in central London, the son of a Catholic 1573Events January articles of Warsaw Confederation signed, sanctioning religious freedom in Poland. July Spanish forces under the Duke of Alva capture Haarlem after a seven month siege. August-October Unsuccessful siege of Alkmaar by Alva November Alva resig - 1652Events April 6 Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck establishes a resupply camp for the Dutch East India Company at the Cape of Good Hope, and founded Cape Town. May 18 Rhode Island passes the first law in North America making slavery illegal. May 29 First Anglo, who had studied architecture in ItalyThe Italian Republic or Italy ( Italian: Italia is a country in the south of Europe, consisting mainly of a boot-shaped peninsula together with two large islands in the Mediterranean Sea: Sicily and Sardinia. To the north, where it borders France, Switzer where the influence of Palladio was very strong. Jones returned to England full of enthusiasm for the new movement and immediately began to design such buildings as the Queen's HouseThe Queen's House, Greenwich (designed by architect Inigo Jones for Anne of Denmark (the queen of King James I of England) and afterwards used by Queen Henrietta Maria) is one of the most important buildings in British architectural history. Located in Gr at GreenwichThis page is about Greenwich in England. For other uses see Greenwich (disambiguation Greenwich (pronounced "Grennitch" or "Grinnitch") is a town, now part of the southeastern suburbs of London in the London postal district SE10, on the south bank of the in 1616 and the Banqueting House at Whitehall three years later. These works, with their clean lines, and symmetry were revolutionary in a country still enamoured with mullion windows, crenelations and turrets.
Hatfield House (illustration above right), built in its entirety by Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, between 1607 and 1611, is a perfect example of the transition period from the gabled turreted style of the previous era. One can clearly see the turreted Tudor style wings at each end with their mullioned windows, however, the whole is achieving a symmetry and the two wings are linked by an Italianate Renaissance facade. This central facade, originally an open loggia, has been attributed to Inigo Jones himself, however, the central porch carries a heavier Jacobean influence than Jones would have used, so the attribution is probably false. Inside the house the elaborately carved staircase demonstrates the Italien renaissance impression on English ornament.Jones's work was followed later by such master architects as Christopher Wren with his designs for St. Paul's Cathedral and many other public buildings and churches in London following the Great Fire of London in 1666. The Great Fire created an opportunity for the new generation of architects to promote the classical traditions on a scale probably unequalled in one city anywhere else in the world. However, the original renaissance style imported by Inigo Jones was now merging with the baroque.
Later architects such as the Venetian Giacomo Leoni in the following century adapted and modified the style to suit the English landscape and the tastes of his country-loving clients, while still remaining true to the Italian influence of design. Lyme Hall in Cheshire is a superb example of this.
The influence of Renaissance architecture can still be seen in many of the modern styles and rules of architecture today.
Important buildings constructed in this period are: