The History of Cities and their Architecture
HEAVEN AND EARTH: discussing the relationships between the church of St Stephen’s Walbrook by Sir Christopher Wren and Agnolo Bronzino’s Allegory with Venus and Cupid (also known as Venus, Cupid, Folly and Time).
The current church was designed by Wren to replace an existing building destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. Constructed 1672-91, it is an example of English Baroque Architecture and was praised by Palladio as “the truest proportioned enclosed building in the world”2. Allegory with Venus and Cupid predates the church by a little over a century (painted C.1546)3. It was likely to have been commissioned by the Medici family and was later sent as a gift to King Francis I of France4. It is an example of the High Mannerist style of painting which characterised the late Italian Renaissance.
These two works use a similar vocabulary, drawing on classical forms, but the rhetoric of each is very different. The painting is a taut, visceral image: it shows the complex agony of the desires of the flesh. It is explicit to the point of antagonism and unusually, it appears not to be a straightforward moralistic, ‘anti-vice’ allegory5 .
The church rejects the high drama of the painting. Wren's restrained baroque styling is applied in a rational scheme with emphasis on harmony, space and light. It is a sanctuary from the noisy, overcrowded, foul smelling and necessarily earthly surroundings (in 1685 the North door of the building was bricked up against the odours from the slaughter houses)6. By excluding the darkness and turmoil of the streets, Wren provided an enclosure of purity for the parishioners of St Stephen’s - a different vision from Bronzino’s allegory.
One of the most stri...
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...omposition. The church, if it has a narrative, tells of God and an immaculate experience brought to Earth.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1 http://ststephenwalbrook.net/history_masterpiece.htm (2013)
2, 7 http://princevulpinelondonchurches.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/st-stephen-walbrook.html (15th April 2013)
3 C. Bambach, J. Cox-Rearick, G. R. Goldner The Drawings of Bronzino (2010), p.146
4 http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/bronzino-an-allegory-with-venus-and-cupid
5 B. A. Oard, The Mirror of Mannerism , 2011 Essay: AGNOLO BRONZINO, AN ALLEGORY WITH VENUS AND CUPID, 1540-50 (National Gallery, London)
6 S. Perks, The History of the Mansion House (1922), p. 119
7 see 2
8 R. Mayer, The Artist’s Handbook of Techniques and Materials, 4th Ed. (1976), p.112-113
9 Ven. P. Delaney, Walbrook and The City of London: Thoughts on the Architecture (2011), p. 2
10 see 5
Campbell examines thirteen Venetian engravings and paintings, as well as an example of early poetry, to illustrate the grafting effect of different imagery sources within a single picture, along with poetic imagery and form used with poesia. Many examples of art that Campbell examines focuses on the nature of the works, such as the juxtaposition of “pagan opposites” in Christian subject matter, the idea of the gaze, juxtaposing two pictorial ...
In the eyes of the people the church is one place you are spared from judgment and critique. It is the one place you should feel safe, to express your thoughts and opinions, pray to the higher power in which you believe and your faith resides and be free of society qualms, demands, and realism. In a part
The painting, in its simplest form, consists of a naked woman lying elegantly upon stately and rich cloths, while a young, also nude boy, is holding a mirror which contains her reflection. Upon first glance of this work, I was quickly able to make out the identity of the two subjects. ...
I chose Egyptian civilization because it’s known as the birthplace of modern civilization. Another reason I chose Egyptian civilization is because its contributions to the world still seen, studied and absorbers. Egypt contribution has come along way and has mad an impact in on thousands of cultures worldwide. Some of Egypt’s contributions I will address are arts, literature and architecture. The Egyptians had little wood to build their buildings and monuments. The Egyptians lived in the desert where there was little vegetation, so they had to rely upon other kinds of building materials other than forest products. The Egyptians turned to the limestones and other materials that they could quarry in the desert. The Egyptians were fond of burying their Kings in extravagant tombs. The purpose of the Pyramids is disputed. Most scholars credit the building of the pyramids on Giza to the need for burial chambers for their Kings. Other scholars say that the Pyramids were built like fortresses. The Pyramids are located less than twenty miles from Cairo, Egypt. The pyramids were built to perpetuate the name of the Kings who were buried in them. The pyramids are also in different sizes. (Ancient Egyptian)
“Compare the ways in which the authors of the two texts convey ideas about art through their central characters?
Roman architecture was responsible for developing many different building styles and techniques and the creation of various new ones. Ancient Rome expanded quickly from a small town (founded in 753bc) situated on the Tiber River, to an empire with one fifth of the world’s population under its control. This displayed the strength that they possessed, and the control of many different cultures led to the acquisition of a range of typologies. The result of the architectural influence of other nations (mainly the Greeks and the Etruscans) led to many great masterpieces of art and building design. The Romans took many pre-existing ideals and developed them into new technologies and ways of living; architecture is just one of these developments. These newly developed technologies, such as concrete, enabled new building approaches and methods. The arch, the dome, vaults and columns, which shall be explored in further detail, were also heavily exploited in order to reach their full potential in construction. This greatly enhanced the way construction techniques were utilised and the abilities of the architects of the time. I will argue that Roman architecture brought about a new way of designing and constructing buildings which the civilisations before had not established to its full potential. Through my conclusion, one should see that Rome used and improved many pre-existing technologies which allowed many newfound techniques. This enabled them to construct buildings such as the Colosseum, with increased complexity and size.
... the way that the artwork is resembled in the religious background of the gospel but reconstructed in to a celebrating impression. Throughout the fresco painting it depicts the myth of the Christ’s three fold temptations relating back to the article that “distinction between fresco and panel painting is sharp, and that painters are seen as competitors amongst themselves discriminating also, between the difference in genuine attempts in being better then the other.” Baxandall, “Conditions of Trade,” 26. in relation, the painting concerns the painter’s conscious response to picture trade, and the non-isolation in pictorial interests.
Thesis: Both St. John the Baptist Cathedral and Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Chartres are constructed in French Gothic style which means that architecturally they have many similarities. However, the 700 year gap between their construction offers St. John the Baptist more flexibility in design and style. Still, their likeness and variations extend far beyond the realm of their design.
... middle of paper ... ... Using sculpture around the Alter of Grace and images on the wall and ceiling he pictures the story of the ’the Fourteen Holy Helpers and gives the kind of imagination to the level of reality as cited by (Lanciani and Rodolfo 1892). All these Baroque architectural elements were applied to the building to get the people attention to the focal point.
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 contrasts between depth and surface, figure and landscape, promiscuity and modesty, beauty and vulgarity all present themselves in de Kooning’s Woman and Bicycle. Although the figure is a seemingly normal woman out for an afternoon with her bike, she becomes so much more through the artist’s use of color, contrast, and composition. The exotic nature of woman presents itself in her direct stare and slick buxom breasts in spite of a nearly indiscernible figure. It is understood that, on the whole, de Kooning did not paint with a purpose in mind, but rather as an opportunity to create an experience, however, that does not go to say that there isn’t some meaning that can come of this work. Even Willem de Kooning once said that art is not everything that is in it, but what you can take out of it (Hess p.144).
There have been many significant movements throughout urban planning history which have influenced the way that planning theory is shaped and thought. Combined Modernist and Neoliberal planning theories have influenced the erection of a vast amount of planning project that have left an imprint on the way that urban planning is practiced today. In this paper, I will begin by describing the components of modernist and neoliberal planning practices. Then, I will outline a brief history of the project and explain how the Los Angeles South Central Farm was influenced by both modernist and neoliberal planning theories. Lastly, I will analyze this project through two different critical perspectives, neo-Marxism and critical race planning. These critical perspectives will enable us to understand the planning practices that were implemented in this project and will helps us explain the planning theories achievements and failures in this case study.
From the time of the ancient Greeks all the way to modern day, some part of humanity has almost always been interested in the past. For the ancient Greeks, it was discovering Mycenaean ruins and composing stories about them. Today, inspiration is still drawn from classical architecture. One has to look no further than the U.S. capitol building, or even the University of Michigan's Angell Hall to see remnants of this architectural style. This raises the question of why does it still persists? Logically, the best way to answer this is to examine the origins of classical architecture, and what it represented then and now. Furthermore, the study of ancient architecture can show insights into past civilizations which otherwise would have been lost.
When I was a child I used to be frightened of entering such a place for it seemed so imposing and somewhat dangerous, especially when music was being played. One day, in order to keep a promise I had made, I saw myself forced to enter. It took me quite a while to get the courage to pass through the old oak door, but the moment I stepped in, I realized just how enchanting and breathtaking this building could be. Its fantastic architecture and exquisite frescoes reflect perfectly the unity between this earth and the unseen kingdom of angels in such a manner that one cannot say where one ends and the other begins. The way in which the church was built is also the vivid testimony of a medieval period. Although it is a place that can sometimes be cold and ask for respect it is where prayers are answered and magic is done. An overwhelming feeling of inner harmony takes over you once you enter and God seems much closer. Darkness and light are welded perfectly together creating Redemption’s house. The tower allows you to see the entire town from the smallest river to the biggest building site, offering you its mightiness.
The history of architecture is quite long, and there is so much to learn about! Not only is there a lot to learn, I have so many questions I wish I could ask famous architects, such as why they built that, is there a particular color or pattern scheme that they chose for that building, is there a reason they built that building, or if they were going through something that influenced their reasoning as to why they built it the way they did.