ARTH 61.71 Italian Renaissance Architecture
This course focuses on buildings constructed in Italy between 1420 and 1580. During this time, the Italian peninsula was a hotbed of revolutionary ideas about how architecture could shape and be shaped by the human will. The Renaissance saw the emergence of a new type of architecture, which took its cue from the needs, activities, and aspirations of people who defined themselves as “modern.” The chronologically presented material is interspersed with classes dedicated to the broad themes of the course (humanism, the inspirational role of ancient and medieval buildings, living conditions and styles, the rising profession of the architect, etc.). Lectures and readings will focus on the major thinkers, designers, and patrons of the period as well as on the economic, political, and religious forces that were at play in the formation of such ambitious and beautiful buildings.
Instructor
Camerlenghi