What Is the Renaissance in Architecture

The Renaissance describes an era from roughly 1400 to 1600 AD when art and architectural design returned to the Classical ideas of ancient Greece and Rome. In large part, it was a movement spurred on by the advances in printing by Johannes Gutenberg in 1440. The wider dissemination of Classical works, from the ancient Roman poet Virgil to the Roman architect Vitruvius, created a renewed interest in the Classics and a humanist way of thinking that broke with long-standing medieval notions. This age of awakening in Italy and northern Europe became known as the Renaissance, which means born anew in French. The Renaissance in European history left behind the Gothic era; it was a new way for writers, artists, and architects to look at the world after the Middle Ages. In Britain, it was the time of William Shakespeare, a writer who seemed to be interested in everything; art, love, history, and tragedy. In Italy, the Renaissance flourished with artists of innumerable talents. Before the dawn of the Renaissance (often pronounced REN-ah-zahns), Europe was dominated by asymmetrical and ornate Gothic architecture. During the Renaissance, however, architects were inspired by the highly symmetrical and carefully proportioned buildings of Classical Greece and Rome. Features of Renaissance Buildings The influence of Renaissance architecture is still felt today in a more contemporary home. Consider that the common Palladian window originated in Italy during the Renaissance. Other characteristic features of the eras architecture include: Symmetrical arrangement of windows and doorsExtensive use of columns of the Classical orders and pilastersTriangular pedimentsSquare lintelsArchesDomesNiches with sculptures Phases of Renaissance Architecture Artists in northern Italy were exploring new ideas for centuries before the period we call the Renaissance. However, the 1400s and 1500s brought an explosion of talent and innovation. Florence, Italy is often considered the center of the Early Italian Renaissance. During the early 1400s, the painter and architect Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446) designed the great Duomo (cathedral) dome in Florence (c. 1436), so innovative in design and construction that even today its called Brunelleschis Dome. The Ospedale degli Innocenti (c. 1445), a childrens hospital also in Florence, Italy, was one of Brunelleschis first designs. Brunelleschi also rediscovered the principles of linear perspective, which the more refined Leon Battista Alberti (1404 to 1472) examined further and documented. Alberti, as a writer, architect, philosopher, and poet, became known as the true Renaissance Man of many skills and interests. His design of the Palazzo Rucellai (c. 1450) is said to be truly divorced from the medieval style, and could finally be considered quintessentially Renaissance: Albertis books on painting and architecture are considered classics to this day. What is called the High Renaissance was dominated by the works of Leonardo da Vinci (1452 to 1519) and the young upstart Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 to 1564). These artists built on the works of those who came before them, extending a classical brilliance that is admired to this day. Leonardo, famous for his paintings of The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa, continued the tradition of what we call the Renaissance Man. His notebooks of inventions and geometrical sketches, including the Vitruvian Man, remain iconic. As an urban planner, like the ancient Romans before him, da Vinci spent his last years in France, planning a Utopian city for the King. During the 1500s, the great Renaissance master, the radical Michelangelo Buonarroti, painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and designed the dome for St. Peters Basilica in the Vatican. Michelangelos most recognizable sculptures are arguably the Pieta and the grand 17-foot marble statue of David. The Renaissance in Europe was a time when art and architecture were inseparable and the skills and talents of a single man could change the course of culture. Often talents worked together under Papal direction. Lasting Influences of Renaissance Architects A Classical approach to architecture spread through Europe, thanks to books by two important Renaissance architects. Originally printed in 1562, the Canon of the Five Orders of Architecture by Giacomo da Vignola (1507 to 1573) was a practical textbook for the 16th-century builder. It was a how-to pictorial description for building with different types of Greek and Roman columns. As an architect Vignola had a hand in St. Peters Basilica and the Palazzo Farnese in Rome, Villa Farnese, and other large country estates for the Catholic elite of Rome. Like other Renaissance architects of his time, Vignola designed with balusters, which became known as banisters in the 20th and 21st centuries. Andrea Palladio (1508 to 1580) may have been even more influential than Vignola.  Originally published in 1570, The Four Books of Architecture by Palladio not only described the five Classical Orders, but also showed with floor plans and elevation drawings how to apply the Classical elements to houses, bridges, and basilicas. In the fourth book, Palladio examines real Roman temples; local architecture like the Pantheon in Rome was deconstructed and illustrated in what continues to be a textbook of Classical design. Andrea Palladios architecture from the 1500s still stands as some of the finest examples of Renaissance design and construction. Palladios Redentore and San Giorigo Maggiore in Venice, Italy are not the Gothic sacred places of the past, but with columns, domes, and pediments they are reminiscent of Classical architecture. With the Basilica in Vicenza, Palladio transformed the Gothic remains of one building into what became a template for the Palladian window we know toda y. La Rotonda (Villa Capra) shown on this page, with its columns and symmetry and dome, became a template in years to come for a new Classical or neo-classical architecture worldwide. As Renaissance approaches to building spread to France, Spain, Holland, Germany, Russia, and England, each country incorporated its own building traditions and created its own version of Classicism. By the 1600s, architectural design took another turn as ornate Baroque styles emerged and came to dominate Europe. Long after the Renaissance period ended, however, architects were inspired by Renaissance ideas. Thomas Jefferson was influenced by Palladio and modeled his own home at Monticello on Palladios La Rotonda. At the turn of the twentieth century, American architects like Richard Morris Hunt designed grand style homes that resembled palaces and villas from Renaissance Italy. The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island may look like a Renaissance cottage, but as it was built in 1895 it is Renaissance Revival. If the Renaissance of Classical designs had not happened in the 15th and 16th centuries, would we know anything of ancient Greek and Roman architecture? Maybe, but the Renaissance sure makes it easier.

How Christianity and Paganism Coexisted in Beowulf Essay

Beowulf is a great example of how Christian beliefs and pagan views could coexists so well in a poem. The poem Beowulf written by an unknown Christian monk around A.D. 700 compares the beliefs of many to the new beliefs that are beginning to form around the world. The poem shows how the people of the time thought about their world and how the things around them happened and they think that the devil controls these things.In Beowulf, we explore both Christian and pagan beliefs, and how they were able to coexist at the time. In the poem, Christianity is shown though the understanding of symbolism to create the ideas of Christianity. The â€Å"Song of Creation† is made famous in Beowulf as the first Christian reference in a poem. The poem make†¦show more content†¦The poem on lines 588-92 referrer to her house as hell: â€Å"Then he realized, suddenly,/That she had brought him into someone’s battle-hall,/And there the water’s heat could not hurt him, Nor a nything in the lake attack him through/The building’s high arched roof...† In Beowulf Hrothgar’s subjects are told to be pagans by their belief that the devil can rid Herot of Grendel. In lines 90-94 their beliefs are shown: â€Å"And sometimes they sacrificed to the old stone gods,/Made heathen vows, hoping for Hell’s/Support, the Devil’s guidance in driving/Their affliction off. That was their way...† Materialism in the Anglo-Saxon society was honorable idea at the time for warriors that travel to other nations to battle and when they succeed at their task the ruler would give them treasure to take back to their home nation. This is noted in lines 389-91 explain how materialism is viewed: â€Å"Keep it free of evil, fight/With glory in your heart! Purge Herot/And your ship will sail home with its treasure-holds full.† At the end of Beowulf when he is fighting the dragon all of his men but one deserted him in battle and he is able to injure the dragon enough that Beowulf deliveries the killing wound. In the poem the pagan references are noting how the followers of Hrothgar and Beowulf believe that the devil holds the power to change what is happening around them and make it better. Hrothgar and BeowulfShow MoreRelatedPaganism In Beowulf1683 Words   |  7 Pageswithin the epic poem Beowulf is the continuous, underlying theme of good versus evil – the shift from paganism to Christianity. Although this epic consists of the battle between the hero, Beowulf, and the monster, Grendel (and Grendel’s mother, as well), the main overture of the story is that of the new Christian belief triumphing over evil and the old pagan beliefs. This value is but one of many that contrast the pagan and Christian principles in Anglo-Saxon and in Beowulf. The blending and cultivation

Old People Free Essays

Michael Bagen SPE 101 Speech 12/14/10 Outline I. Attention getter: Going to Wedding, old man hits car i. Credibility: Real life situations with older drivers, Dad is an EMT and talks to me about calls all the time ii. We will write a custom essay sample on Old People or any similar topic only for you Order Now Topics: The facts of old drivers, real-life stories, solutions iii. Thesis: I want a federal law to be passed that forces any driver the age of 65 and older to be retested every 3 years to not only save their lives, but others around them. II. Statistics: i. In next 20 years, the number of elderly drivers triple in amount according to Smart Motorist . Older drivers more conservative when driving rarely changing there habits because of factors such as busy highways or nighttime where as other drivers may go another route b. More accidents than kids, mostly at intersections c. At the age of 65 there is a much greater risk for a driver to be engaged in a vehicle accident 1. At the age of 75 that risk increases from just a crash to an accident involving a fatality because of there higher risk of bad eyes or slower reaction time ii. Troubles with Age a. Bad at making turns b. Slower response rates and reaction times to a drastic change c. Studies show that most accidents involving the elderly are caused at intersections there also multi-vehicle accidents iii. In Japan (2006) a. 20. 8 percent over age 65 b. 13. 1 percent licensed drivers iv. Between 75-84 years old a. Rate of 3 deaths per 100 million miles 1. Over age of 85, chances increase nearly four times v. By 2030 a. Predictions for over age 65 1. Responsible for over 25% of fatal crashes vi. Database, Accidents Analysis Prevention – July 2010 a. tested 10 teenagers and 10 senior citizens . used pedestrians to test stopping skills 1. 1. 8% slower in front stopping 2. 2. 8% slower on right side 3. 2. 1% slower for left side vii. One of the problems no one wants to fight this is because Seniors are one of the biggest group of voters every election a. Take away there licenses they can’t drive to the polls b. Take away there licenses even if they could drive they probably won’t vote for you III. Real Stories: i. Elizabeth Grimes a. 90 years old b. Drove through a red light at an intersection and hit one car and then smashed into 17 year old Katie Bolka 1. A classmates mom heard the crash from a couple cars back and ran out to see if anyone needed help, she recognized the school uniform from her kids and she called to school to let them know 2. On this day Katie left early because she wanted to get to school early for some last minute cramming since she had exams that day an had spent the previous weekend studying. a. If she left at her normal time instead of leaving early her 14-year-old sister would have been in the car with her then they both might not be here today. b. 5. 5 days later, she died, she never regained consciousness c. Of the other four people in the accident including Elizabeth they all survived with minor injuries. ii. George Russell Weller (2003, Santa Monica CA) a. Age 86, Weller suffered from arthritis, nausea as a side effect of medication, and reduced mobility from a hip replacement. b. George hit the back end of a Mercedes and after doing this he began to accelerate around a corner 1. He went through a road closed sign signifying that there was a farmers market going on and then proceeded to drive at around speeds of 40-60mph for about 1,000ft The only reason his car finally stopped was from bodies being under it. 2. Killed 10 people . Injured over 70 people in his Buick 1. Mistook the accelerator for the break 3. Too old to go to jail – charged for manslaughter a. Fined $101,700. b. Five years of felony probation. 4. Aftermath: a. As of May 22, 2008 the City of San Fransisco has paid out over $21 million to settle dozens of civil suits from the families b. The man that caused all th is grief and devistation is confined to his house for the rest of his life receiving 24 hour nursing care 5. Scary part besides the obvious a. His DMV record was almost spotless, besides one accident that occurred almost 10 years prior b. The accidents were almost identical to. While he didn’t cause any harm that time the fashion of crash was almost the same with his car driving off the road for no reason and then him getting out looking dazed and confused. iii. Elizabeth Baldick a. Age 84 b. Drove her car though a Sears from entrance 1. Completely mauling over a register counter including the employee behind it 2. The only thing that stopped her car was a cement support beam in the store 3. If it wasn’t for that she may not have stopped for a while a. Even after the crash had happened her foot was still pressing down on the gas and you could hear the tires still trying to move 4. The only reason she could give for all this happening was because she was currently on some medication IV. Some Solutions: i. Federal Law Passed. a. Every 3 years get re-tested 1. Check eyes and reactions ii. Doctors should work closer with the DMV a. By having doctors work closer we can get people off the road that shouldn’t be driving b. If someone comes in with a seizure, eye problem anything that could impair there driving abilities the doctor should take it upon themselves to let the DMV know c. Or a doctor giving out medication that has side effects that could do the same the DMV should know about these things . On a personal note my cousin lives in California and is currently going through some medical problems, while he was driving a couple months ago he had a seizure. He had no history of seizures or anything of the sort but after going to the doctor he was not allowed to drive for the next couple months while he was under observation so it wouldn’t happen agai n 2. Before he was allowed to drive again he had to get written consent to provide to the DMV from his doctor saying he is allowed to drive again. 3. My cousin is in his mid 40’s, why aren’t we doing this to people that are twice his age and are still driving? ii. Increase profit a. Government will make more money with retests 1. Lower down the debt iv. States that passed this law a. 23 states require periodical visits to DMV b. Only 16 of those states require visual tests v. More precise tests a. Make the eye exams for any situation 1. Florida has enacted a new more strict eye exam for the elderly (80 and over) 2. Because of it 20% of the over 80 crowd don’t even go to try and renew because they don’t think they’ll pass. b. Make sure the medication won’t interfere c. Make it harder than the normal driving test vi. Urge your elderly family members to go and get checked out again, or tell them the next time they need to go somewhere to call you and you’ll take them. V. Conclusion: i. Everyone get in accidents, but with age the increase just keeps getting higher and higher ii. Pass a Federal Law to try and stop this easily avoidable problem from happening a. If Seniors want to drive that bad then they will have to follow the rules for doing so iii. Everyday a Senior citizen takes a chance while driving, who knows who could be next to fall victim to it. Works Cited: Davis, R. , Debarros, A. (2007, May 2). Older, dangerous drivers a growing problem. Editorial]. USA Today, p. 1. Retrieved November 02, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://www. usatoday. com/ news/ nation/ 2007-05-02-older-drivers-usat1a_n. htm. Press, A. (2007). Older Drivers, Elderly Driving, Seniors At The Wheel. Retrieved November 07, 2010 from Non-Profit Organization, Smart Motorist: http://www. smartmotorist. com/ traffi c-and-safety-guideline/ older-drivers-elderly-driving-seniors-at-the-wheel. html. White, M. (2006). Senior Driving. Retrieved November 07, 2010 from Non-profit organization, Helpguide. org: http://www. helpguide. org/ elder/ senior_citizen_driving. htm. How to cite Old People, Papers