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The Elizabethan Age was an innovative and unique period in history. In this period architecture was more than a profession, it was an art, and an influence on the people. Architects in this period made historical differences, the styles of architecture transitioned greatness, and the homes created an individual standing. Elizabethan architecture was an influential "trend" in which the "competition" for social division began, and architects attempted to replicate Italian Renaissance architecture.
Architects of the Elizabethan Era were somewhat of a new thing. Sculptors introduced Renaissance forms early in the fifteenth century. Three Florentine's, who were originally trained as goldsmiths, made crucial innovations to the Renaissance art (Beck 3). The eldest of the three Florentine's eventually became an architect.
Filippo Brunelleschi, the eldest, developed linear perspective, which is an important prospect of architecture today. Filippo designed the spacious octagonal dome of Florence Cathedral. This building was considered one of the most impressive engineering and artistic feats since Roman times (Beck 3). Because of this attainment, Filippo was considered the first true Renaissance builder.
Even though Filippo was one of the greatest architects of his time, his style was similar to that of the traditional churches. Elizabethan architecture didn't come from the churches, in fact most of the main ideas came from the architects themselves (Locher, Pruitt, and Silver 2). Inigo Jones was perhaps the biggest reason architecture is what it is today. Jones was responsible for bringing Renaissance architecture to England. Inigo's first piece of architecture was a royal one.
He was asked to design Queen Anne's house in Greenwich. The Queen's house was built with a similar design to that of the Banqueting House of Whitehall in London which was later to be built by Jones. "[the banqueting house] represented the assimilation of the Renaissance in England" (Locher, Pruitt, Sliver 2). "Because of Jones's unique and innovative styles, architects everywhere used his ideas for centuries afterward; " They combined his work with their Another great architect of this time was Robert Smythson, the designer of Hardwick Hall. Robert "was one of the largest advocates of the use of symmetry and ornateness (2). He wanted buildings to be beautiful even though he would say that they are practical.
Smythson's buildings had high basements for an attempt of lighting in the kitchen or storage areas. His most ingenious tactic was the use of stairways. The stairways made all parts of the mansions easily accessible. "Architecture that was practical was a new idea in the 1500 's" (2). The architects responsible for the Flamboyant style being built in France were mainly Amboise (1483 - 1501) and Blois (1498 - 1515). "The crowning features of their exteriors are magnified versions of dormer windows" (Hinkle 7).
The last flowering of Flamboyant architecture occurred between the end of the fifteenth century and the 1530 's in the work of Martin Chambiges (died 1532) and his son Pierre (died 1544), who were responsible for a series of grand cathedrals facades, including the west front of Troyes Cathedral and the transept facades of Sells and Beavvais Cathedral. (7). Architects made things possible, but with possibility comes reason. What makes things possible? The reason for Renaissance architecture is simply the need to have historical and modern expressions. "The two principal components of Renaissance style are the following: A revival of the classical forms originally developed by the ancient Greeks and Romans, and a renewed vitality and spirit emphasizing the diverse qualities of humanity" (Beck 1). "Architecture was the dominant expression of the Gothic Age" (Hinkle 1). Gothic architecture consisted of secular buildings, stained glass, and other decorative arts through the centuries. In France Gothic architecture is known as Flamboyant because of it's flame like forms of tracery.
The Flamboyant style originated in the 1380 's, and ended between the end of the 15 th century and the 1530 's. The English builders devised their own late Gothic architecture, the perpendicular style. This style spurned the Flamboyant style altogether. The masterpiece of this style was that of a king's, in which the fan-shaped spreading panels are in complete accord with the rectangular walls and windows (Hinkle 7).
By the 17 th century the growth of the late Gothic forms were replaced by the Renaissance. Religion was a pretty big part of what style evolved. Baroque evolved in Rome in 1620 as an expression of the Catholic revival. Also during this time Baroque spread to other parts of Italy and even across the Alps.
The word "Baroque" originally meant irregular or misshapen (Norwich 172). Baroque was "applied by art historians inn the 19 th century to describe a type of architecture current in Europe during the 17 th and 18 th centuries which they condemned as being contrary to classical principals" (172). Baroque was a very strong influence of architecture, but in some places it never took root because religions were so strong. These religions were mostly Christian. Italian Renaissance spread across the Alps in the last years of the 1500 's. Plateresque was bought into England under the rule of Henry VIII.
In the middle of the sixteenth century a new style emerged, it was much more classical than any other style before it (Norwich 157). The second half of the sixteenth century was dominated by Italian Mannerism. In the seventeenth century this manner was gradually replaced by new styles. This shows that there are other influences of architecture, such as the peoples' desires to keep up on the modern style. Elizabethan style art was a transitional period between the Gothic and Renaissance styles ("Elizabethan" 1). This type of architecture was the new style and like most new styles it made an impact.
Elizabethan architecture ranged from the late 1500 's throughout the 1600 's. It also reached it's pinnacle in the late 1500 's. The Renaissance started in Italy in the 1400 's but didn't affect England until a later period. "The first significant architectural factor from this period was that the traditional building of churches stopped and the building of houses began" (Locher, Pruitt, and Silver 1). Within the short Elizabethan period, a "competition" emerged to divide the social classes. Houses in the Elizabethan period served as social and personal status symbols. "There were several types of homes in this period: royal works, great homes, smaller country homes, and farmhouses" (Kamhi 1). Externally, Elizabethan houses had many different features. "The mixture of unusually tall buildings and towers made for an effective skyline" (Locher, Pruitt, and Silver 1).
Also "as the royalty of the Elizabethan period grew so did their homes, not only in size and magnitude, but also in greatness The royal works belonged to the kings and queens, this meant that these houses were usually extraordinary. The houses spread over miles of land, farther than the human eye could see. They were stone foundations with several levels and a countless number of bedrooms. They contained halls, chapels, parlors, large bay windows, and miles of stone gardens and vegetation. These houses were not common and were The upper-class, comprised of doctors and business men owned the great homes. These homes weren't as extraordinary or uncanny, but were large and quite nice.
The great homes had many of the same features as the royal works, just on a much lesser scale (Kamhi 1). These homes were by no means small or shabby; they were large and sometimes considered to be just as beautiful as the royal works. The smaller country homes were owned by merchants and tradesmen. These homes are more conceivable than the royal works and the great homes. The smaller country homes were nice, cozy, and very inexpensive because the owners, craftsmen and tradesmen, already had most of the materials needed to build the houses (Kamhi 2). These homes were usually two stories, with a kitchen, family room, and three or four bedrooms.
The use of glass also made the smaller country homes a notable feature. The idea conceived from the Pre-Renaissance churches allowed light to flood into the houses through the grid-shape windows (Locher, Pruitt, and Silver 1). Lastly the farmers and their families occupied the farmhouses. These houses were similar to the small country homes with a few structural differences. These houses weren't used for social symbols, but rather just for a nice place to live. However "the countryside began to reform itself from small farmhouses to great houses which features gothic styles and Renaissance detail" (Locher, Pruitt, and Silver 1).
These houses were built by successful merchants and powerful statesmen to express their wealth. There were many different floor plans to go along with this period of architecture. An odd floor plan was used in the Triangular Lodge in Northernhamptonshire. "This building has the common theme of the number three. For instance, it has three walls, three floors, and three entrances. The use of the number three was to symbolize trinity" (1). "This plan goes along with some of the other [main elements] of this period, such as sunlight and the circulation of free air" (1). Sometimes one side of the building is left off to promote the extra sunlight and free circulation of air.
The different styles of architecture suit the different tastes of the Elizabethan people. Homes were made beautiful through the use of classical symmetry and Ornateness. Classical symmetry was the Elizabethan visual expression of order and harmony. Ornateness, invented by the English, was another idea of Renaissance architecture. "If [someone] were to walk into a Renaissance house and glance up at the ceiling, [he / she ] would see an example of this ornateness" (Locher, Pruitt, and Silver 1).
Instead of decorating the walls with art, the walls were made their own art form, as well The Elizabethan era may have been short, but made its impression in history just the same. Architects designed amazing buildings, styles of architecture influenced the people, and the homes socially divided the people. Elizabethan Architecture was an influential "trend" in which the "competition" for social division began, and architects attempted to replicate Italian Renaissance architecture. Bibliography: Works Cited Beck, James. "Renaissance Art and Architecture. " web low / articles /r / r 022000525 f. html. "Elizabethan Style. " web. Hinkle, William. "Gothic Art and Architecture. " web articles / g /g 010000464.
html. Kamhi, Valerie. "Elizabethan Architecture. " web. Locher, Barbara. Pruitt, David. Silver, Justin. "A History of Elizabethan Architecture. " web (6 Jan. 2001 >.
Norwich, John. Julius, ed. Great Architecture of the World. London: Mitchell Beauty, 1975.
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Research essay sample on Elizabethan Era Gothic Architecture
