Barcelona is one of the major cities of Spain, second only to Madrid, capital of this country. Although Barcelona, as most part of world’s important cities, is crowded and noisy, it offers visitors a myriad of hidden architectural wonders. Barcelona buildings reflect an art that has evolved over time from Romanesque to Modernist style, enabling tourists, visitors and residents alike to enjoy of the city’s architectural beauty.
Buildings with Romanesque architectural style
Romanesque is the first known architectural style of buildings in Barcelona. As reported by several specialized sources, it was a style of architecture prevailing in Europe circa 900 – 1,200 A.C., although some specialists date it back to the end of Roman Empire (5th century).
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It was first used for the construction of monastic precincts, but later (14th century) this style spread to the rest of civil architecture, such as palaces, public buildings, etc.
The Gothic architecture in Barcelona can be appreciated in the historic center of Barcelona (known as Barri Gotic). There, it is possible to find still standing courtyards of medieval houses. Moreover, in the Barri Gotic it is also located the Jewish neighborhood (known as the Call). As several specialized publications report Jewish presence in this city dates back to 11th century.
Particularly, those structures built under the Catalan Gothic style are identified by their width and height, as well as their large rosettes, awarding them a slender and clean view. Among the most important buildings associated to this architectural style in Barcelona are The most important religious buildings are Santa Maria del Mar Church, Santa Creu i Santa Eulalia Cathedral, Monastery of Pedralbes and Santa Maria del Pi
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Renaissance was developed during 15th -17th centuries in Europe. This style emphasized geometry, symmetry and proportion, similarly to the architecture of ancient Rome. Nevertheless, Renaissance used hemispherical domes, semicircular arches, as well as a particular order when locating lintels, colums and pilasters that established a clear difference with medieval architecture. In turn, Baroque style began in Italy, at the end of the 16th century, and was characterized by the development of new forms and an almost scenic use of contracts between shadows and light. Furthermore, for example, in the case of churches, strutures used oval forms and broader naves, ostentaious use of stucco, marble or wood ornaments, colorful ceiling frecoes, among others. These architectural styles are represented in Barcelona’s architecture through a limited amount of buildings, among which it is possible to highlight the Hospital de Sant Pau I de la Santa Creu, also known as the Old Hospital de la Santa Creu, and Church de la
One of the great architects in time was Andrea Palladio, who was made famous for his magnificent Villas built in Italy in the fifteen hundreds. To do so he drew from the Greek and Roman’s architecture, studying many of their finest works, to create his masterful villas. This process would develop into a style of architecture, which became known as Palladianism. This style has inspired buildings which have dominated the landscape for the last four hundred years. These buildings include: English castles, American public buildings, Swiss railroad stations, Spanish libraries, Tuscan villas and Canadian hotels. Many of these buildings are considered to be the great buildings of the world.
This carried on in to the 18th century where more and more people dabbled in the gothic style with out a full understanding of how gothic architecture worked as a structural system. They confused stages of the gothic period, which were later defined by Thomas Rickman in is writing, and also used Classical forms such as pilaster and venetian windows. Many interiors were of a classical form a layout and some times other style were thrown in. Some gothic forms were even used on the exterior of building where they didn’t perform the function they were meant to. This shows how little the architects of the 18th century studied the mediaeval and how little they understood it.
The time from the 1300's-1500's is most commonly known as the Renaissance. During this time, the world was becoming a brighter place, it was awakening from the Dark Ages. New ideas were also flowing throughout Europe during this time. Ideas such as humanism, believing that humans are important, and the idea of beginning education again were just some of these ideas. However, the Renaissance is most commonly known for art and the architecture that was being made at the time. Though there are many great pieces of art and signs of humanism, the best sign is Brunelleschi's Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore. The Duomo is the best creation of the Renaissance because it is based off Roman architecture, is the creation of many innovative ideas and it
Rome and the Statue of Liberty in New York are all proof of the extraordinary celebrated artwork human kind has been able to do throughout several years. Now, I want to discuss another celebrated work of art that was quite popular in the medieval period, Gothic architecture. During the medieval period Gothic architecture was considered to be luxurious because of its exaggerated height given to buildings. Not only did it give height, it also had plenty of other characteristics like the pointed arch, the vaulted ceiling, and of course, plenty of windows where light could pass right through. For statesman historian, Abbot Suger, light was important. He believed light was a connection from heaven to Earth. The more light, the better. It was because of Abbot Suger that the admired Gothic style began along with more of his art program from about 1125-1144 (Inventing the Exegetical Stained-Glass Window: Suger, Hugh, and a New Elite Art, par 1). However, not everyone agreed with this extravagant style. When Gothic cathedrals began being built, French abbot, Bernard de Clairvaux made a judgment of his own. He explained that he did not see the need to be so extravagant when the money going to those glittering churches can go to a better use, the poor. I agree with Bernard; there is no need to be stylish when adorning cathedrals if there are better uses for that money.
You may think today “Hey, I totally wonder sometimes what the Middle Ages Churches and Gothic Medieval Cathedrals where like. What were they important for? Were they Churches like the ones today? How long did it take to build? “ Well that may be SOME of the questions you may have but you may have more. In this essay you're about to find out why the Medieval Gothic Cathedrals were so important for, and how much rule and and wide range of power they had over the people in the Middle Ages, and last but NOT least, the creative sublime (I’ll delete this comment later on if you see this but “sublime” is my own words not internet word) of the Gothic style windows of the Cathedral. First, the one I like most, the Gothic stain glass windows of the Gothic Cathedral. Stained glass is argued to an opinion or belief, one of the most important aspects of Gothic cathedrals. As its popularity rose, mainly during the mid 12th century, the increased existence of stained glass presented large changes to the way the general residents were learning about the religion. The windows became illuminated optic (“Optic” is my own wording) talk of biblical stories, which may have had an even greater impact than the spoken word of the priest. In this research paper, I will be primarily focusing on the stained glass windows and architectural styles employed in five Gothic buildings in France, each having their own unique and worthy attention and characteristics to the development of stained glass windows. By looking at the architectural improvements shown in these structures built during the Gothic time frame, we are able to see the impact all over the place to itch for increase...
Several elements from Gothic architecture were borrowed from the Lombards and the Franks. They took the compound pier and archivolt, the alternate system, and the ribbed and domed vault. It can be seen that the main dispositions of the Gothic plan are derived from Carolingian developments of the early Christian basilica. The most fundamental element of Gothic architecture is the pointed arch, whi...
This style was one of the first to utilize almost entirely stone for its construction. The Gothic style followed, originating in France during the 12th century. It was widely used across Europe until the end of the 16th century. These architectural concepts differ in three fundamental areas: arch construction, buttress style, and type of vaulting. Structures built under the Romanesque category are generally dark and solemn, with little decoration on their exteriors.
They were almost like a fortress. Romanesque cathedrals had few windows as a result of their thick walls, so the churches were very dark. In a sense, this echoed the life that was outside of these sanctuaries’ walls during the Middle Ages. Some Romanesque characteristics in architecture were stone barrel vaulting or groin vaulting, thick and heavy pillars, small windows so less natural light, round arches, multiple towers, wooden roofs, and painted decorations, like frescoes, throughout the interior.... ...
I chose two cathedrals for my post, the Durham Cathedral and the Chartres Cathedral. The Durham Cathedral, my example of Romanesque architecture, was built from local sandstone in 1087-1133 CE (the east wing was replaced in 1242) and is currently located in Nothern England. The Gothic style structure, the Chartres Cathedral (also known as the Cathedral of Notre-Dame), was mostly constructed between 1194 and 1220 CE due to a fire causing it to be rebuilt. Assembled utilizing limestone, this colossal structure is currently located in France and is known for it’s strikingly beautiful stained-glass windows. These structures share a few similarities, like their ribbed groin vaults (the crossing segments on the ceiling of the hallways), the high-placed windows as well as their huge circular window that were added to provide light and a
St Peter’s basilica which is built based on rational form of architecture is a Late Renaissance church located within Vatican City, designed by Donato Bramante. Its significant history is that according to the Catholic tradition this was the place that Saint Peter was buried. Not so far away...
The Gothic Age to the Renaissance changed various aspects of art and architecture especially by the influence of religious beliefs. Some other influences came from the ideas antiquity and humanity, but most importantly from leading artists during those times that were influenced by one another’s work. The name “Gothic” was not created until.. The High Renaissance is most known as an enlightened period, because they showed a more realistic and detailed perspective of the world as it was. However, both periods shared an immense amount of importance to religious beliefs in which it was shown within their art.
The style of Baroque architecture is say to be overwhelm, in other word, heavy and powerful. In order to bring out the sense of solemn, holiness, it is presented in the form of massiveness and movement. The St. Peter’s Basilica, completed in 1626, designed by Donato Brama...
In the Florence Cathedral, Florence, Italy, there is a cathedral church whose octagonal dome, built without the aid of scaffolding, was considered the greatest engineering feat of the early Renaissance. Dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore, Our Lady of the Flower, it is also known as the Duomo, after the Italian word for cathedral. Created by many great Early Modern artists, this piece of architecture is a perfect example the Renaissance style. We can come to a better understanding of why this is so by exploring what the characteristics of the Renaissance “style”. To understand the properties of the Florence Cathedral that fit the Early Modern style, I will begin with a description and its history. The cathedral's architectural style, although greatly influenced by French Gothic elements remained distinctively Florentine, especially the geometric patterns of red, green, and white marble on the building's exterior. Construction of the cathedral began in 1294 on the site of a Christian church founded in the 6th or 7th century and continued until 1436. Several celebrated Italian architects were involved in the project, including Giotto, Arnolfo di Cambio, Andrea Orcagna, and, most notably, Filippo Brunelleschi, who was responsible for designing and building the dome. The cathedral's exterior is ornamented with sculpture and mosaics by Italian artists Donatello, Nanni di Banco, and Domenico Ghirlandaio, among others. The building's stained-glass windows are the work of the Italian architect and artist Lorenzo Ghiberti, and the interior is decorated with sculpture and fresco paintings by several Renaissance masters. Construction of the campanile (bell tower), situated to the right of the entrance to the Duomo, was begun by Giotto and completed according to his plans in 1359, after his death. Nearly 278 ft high, the campanile is embellished with red, green, and white marble panels of relief sculpture by Italian artists Andrea Pisano and Luca della Robbia, and niches with sculpted figures by Donatello and other masters. Facing the cathedral and campanile is a smaller, octagonal structure, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, noted for its gilt-bronze doors, elaborately worked in high relief by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti. With that background information about the cathedral, one question comes to mind: what is it that makes the Renaissance style distinct? Renaissa...
The influence of Romanesque architecture towards Gothic is very prevalent when studying the two side-by-side. For example,
There were two main types of architecture during the middle ages, the Romanesque style and the Gothic style. The Romanesque period took place approximately between 1096 and 1270 (the eleventh and twelfth centuries) and the Gothic period took place approximately between 1150 and 1450 (the thirteenth through the fifteenth centuries) (Bersson 383). Evidence of both styles of architecture emerged throughout Europe. The political landscape had changed and the Christian church provided a measure of unity throughout the centuries of this medieval era (Stalley 13).