Italian Renaissance and Baroque Architecture

3 units

This course will survey the development of architecture in Italy from 1400 to 1700. From long-established medieval models, we will explore the reintroduction and reinterpretation of Antiquity from the late 14th century onward. The course will then explore how these foundational Renaissance ideals evolved to become Mannerism and found their ultimate expression in Bernini's Baroque. Following a chronological progression, the course will address the structures and theories of the period through its leading architects: Brunelleschi, Alberti, Michelangelo, Palladio, and Bernini, among others. The course will explore a wide range of architectural types, from the centralized church to private palaces and villas. Further themes to be considered will include the development of the architect as a professional, regional styles and their relationship with antiquity, patterns of patronage, and the interior. Prerequisite: L01 113.