Renaissance and Baroque – are two remarkable styles in architecture, which are bounded inextricably. For better understanding these two styles, their derivation and connection it is worth to begin with the first of them – Renaissance.
The beginning of Renaissance started in 15th century. There is a version of the derivation of Renaissance in Italy. It was a contest on the best bronze relief for Baptistery in Florence in 1401. Two failed participants - Filippo Brunelleschi and Donatello considered the results of the contest unjust and left for Rome to explore the ancient ruins of the city. Their aim was to find out the true principals of the architecture of Ancient Rome. Hence, this adventure can be fairly regarded as the beginning of Renaissance in Italian architecture (Watkin, 1986).
After Filippo Brunelleschi had returned to Florence, he won the right to lead the construction of the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore (Cambio & Brunelleschi,1436) – the main city’s cathedral. Despite all the difficulties, Brunelleschi succeeded in a building of a majestic dome over the main cathedral in Florence. The main constructive discovery of Brunelleschi - is correctly chosen ribs bendings, which had the largest solidity. Brunelleschi learned all the practical techniques and forms of ancient Romans and created on their basis his own style. He revived ancient classical tradition in architecture. Brunelleschi’s architecture style could be called more "feminine" in comparison with ancient Roman models (Watkin, 1986).
Brunelleschi’s constructions had the main impact on developing a style of Renaissance. Later on his contribution to architecture gave rise to the next classic styles, including Baroque. Renaissance principles in space building and decorative techniques are universal and could be well used in any age to solve a variety of artistic tasks.
Thus, what does exactly the architecture of Renaissance represent? What had the most influenced on its rise? Among general reasons, we can name a development of the theory of humanism. Renaissance appeared at a time, when feudal relations were ruining; every person’s individuality became significant. People began to see themselves and the world around them differently, changed the criteria for their ratings, aesthetic tastes, the attitude to the reality and the past.
This style means a return to the ancient forms of art. It returns interest to ancient order forms in architecture, painting in a realistic manner, realistic sculpture and sculptural relief, based on a study of the proportions of the human body and plastic anatomy (Hamlin, 2012).
Architecture of Renaissance is often referred to as humanistic since it had forms comparable in scale to the human body. It also used an order as organized system of decoration, causing a feeling of balance and stability.
Revival of antique ideas revealed in different spheres of human life. Culture of Renaissance first appeared among high societies and was not available to many people. However, with time new ideas became more understandable to ordinary people, and they gradually began to change traditional perceptions. Humanists were not against church or religion. They wanted to understand God's will concerning human, understand the purpose of a human on the Earth. Thus, Renaissance created unknown, temporary unity - the spiritual history of humanity.
An advantage of Renaissance lies in a compilation of all the elements of beauty, that implies the harmony of forms and proportions. The highest achievements of humanistic art were created during the High Renaissance (30th years of the XVI century). In that period were creating their masterpieces such famous masters like Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Bramante, Palladio, etc. (Bartlett, 2011).
Baroque style which came after Renaissance reflected new ideas about society and changing world around it. It is important to mention, that the greatest masters of Renaissance gave birth to Baroque themselves. Baroque style matured slowly in architecture of High Renaissance. Amazingly, the greatest period in the history of architecture was short, only some ten or fifteen years.
The style appeared as a sequence of the crisis of humanism. Church was also against the scientific, technical discoveries, which could undermine the credibility of religion. Church and some rulers used Baroque for securing their authority. Baroque buildings were used by influential people to show their wealth, power. Baroque was spread among Catholic territories, or where it would be beneficial to someone powerful. Eventually, Baroque extended almost in all of Europe and then reached America with Spanish, where it is still called the "Spanish style" (Kimball & Edgell, 2002).
Michelangelo is considered as the last artist of Renaissance style and the creator of Baroque style. It was Michelangelo, who created its main, specific, distinctive element – the Baroque (plastic) wall. The best his work - St. Peter's Cathedral (Bramante, della Porta, Maderno & Michelangelo, 1626) by that time was constructed in Baroque style. Michelangelo made the building dynamic by providing the central dome with all available architectural space (in contradiction to Bramante’s project, who began the construction).
Buns of pilasters, double columns, ribs of a dome –all those elements depicted an organic, powerful movement upwards. In comparison with sketches of Michelangelo, the next executive of the Cathedral’s project - Giacomo della Porta in 1588 - 1590 strengthened that movement by sharpening the dome; he did it not hemispherical, as it was customary in Renaissance, but elongated, parabolic, and by that was canceled the classic ideal of balance. New appearance emphasized powerful movement upward to the sky.
The followers decided to move towards a more complex way. They refused completely to use symmetry of the composition, opening up entirely new possibilities of the wall; it gained unseen before plasticity and dynamics. In 1607 - 1617 Carlo Maderno, who continued the building of the Cathedral, added on an elongated nave, that gave it a powerful horizontal dynamics. Thus, as a consequence of rethinking the architectural space, Baroque style was born (Hamlin, 2012).
The word "baroque" defines the style in which Renaissance dissolved, and as it is often said, which transformed into Renaissance. This style is characterized by dynamism, scale contrast, contrast of light and shadow, inconsistency of rhythms, creation of visual illusions. Baroque buildings often have complex plans, facades with volumetric effects, curved surfaces of the walls. Instead of accurate antique forms sophisticated shaping is used. Baroque architectural forms inherited a lot of features from the Renaissance architecture, but they have become much more complicated and more picturesque.
Visual illusion has become one of the main features of Baroque architecture. If all elements in Renaissance building were independent, in Baroque period all the architectural components of the building and decor reflected the general idea, that united the look of the house, its interiors, natural landscape or garden around the building, urban spaces (Hersey, 2000).
Baroque style had different development features in every country. However, it had specific features which are same among all the countries: increased religiosity, strengthening the role of the state, higher emotionality, dynamics, decoration, big amount of luxury items.
After the Renaissance had begun in Florence, it spread to other areas of Italy, and then it continued in France, England, Germany and other European countries. This new tendency became a tool, which could unite Europe. The desire of masters was to show unlimited opportunities of man. This is a way how Renaissance came into history of human culture.
Thus, Renaissance and then Baroque are a revolutionary event of that time, especially in Italy. For people of that time, Renaissance was an opportunity to move away from the "darkness" of the Middle Ages. This powerful movement has identified the development of European civilization for many years.
Baroque is embarking on a new period - an Age of Enlightenment. Works of art of this style have been developing until the present day (rococo, neo-classical).
References
Bartlett, K. (2011). The civilization of the Italian Renaissance (1st ed.). North York, Ontario: University of Toronto Press.
Hamlin, A. (2012). History of architecture (1st ed.). Bremen: Salzwasser-Verl.
Hersey, G. (2000). Architecture and geometry in the age of the Baroque (1st ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Kimball, F., & Edgell, G. (2002). Super review of history of architecture (1st ed.). New Jersey: Research & Education Association.
Watkin, D. (1986). A history of Western architecture (1st ed.). New York: Thames and Hudson.
Cambio, A., & Brunelleschi, F. (1436). Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. Florence, Italy.
Bramante, D., della Porta, G., Maderno, C., & Michelangelo,. (1626). Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano. Vatican City.
