The Renaissance. The dawning of the successes and failures of the past in the minds of intellectuals, architects prominent in them, would allow this age to move past the (now proven wrong) idea of the "Dark Ages".
Roth specifically states that "... They [the Italians] sensed that they were at the start of a new age of vast possibilities, an age that could equal the achievement of the ancients."
This mindset was imperative and indeed defines the Renaissance age. Realization of human potential was key to development and redevelopment of architecture.
http://www.vam.ac.uk Cross Section of Brunelleschi's Dome
Among this gradual intellectual change developed with it a social change. These intellectuals and prominent, wealthy people (such as royalty, merchants etc) developed a trend that buildings should be constructed for religious or public purposes which greatly increased the ability for the "renewal of the ancients."Brunelleschi's Dome
Roth's first example of an ancient renewal is found in the achievements of Filippo Brunelleschi an important early Italian architect. The challenge emerged to design and build a church. However, there was an important stipulation which required that there be an open space that would not impede church functions. This required a dome, and "on the basis of traditional medieval building practices, the proposed dome vault seemed impossible to build."
Enter Brunelleschi and his reinvention of the ancients! The examination of ancient roman architecture, the Pantheon, displayed that a dome of the required size could be built.
Based on Roman Architecture, the Dome of Florence Cathedral used ancient buildings as a model while introducing combinations of ingenious and new technologies. Supported by steel crossbars the basic idea of dome forcing lateral pressure horizontal remains. This design changes ancient aspects by the production of 2 domes (inner and outer) separated by the bars. This allowed for a heavy support inside and lighter out. The ability of creating huge spaces without the central supports was achieved here, starting off the Renaissance with a building type not seen since antiquity.
Outside the Dome of Florence Cathedral
http://sarahsmiscellany.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html
Inside the Dome. Without the technique of vaulted "dome-age" and introduction of steel bars, the fresco's could be painted without interruption across the inner dome. A stunning effect. This ties into bringing these religious buildings to the poor by depicting the actions of specific bible stories in artwork.
...and those are great images....what a spectacular building that is! nice annotations and thoughtful analysis of some of what you are seeing. work to make your reading responses a coherent essay.
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