Middle Renaissance - Reviews

Amanda: I really like the amount of detail that Amanda went into. She provided so much detail on all of the important people as well as all of the important design aspects of this time. 

Becca: Becca did a great job at going into detail on the Great Fire of 1666, i liked this because the information she provided wasn't in our notes. Also the pictures that she chose to show the legs of the furniture was really neat to see and put it into another perspective. 

English Period- Middle Renaissance

      The Middle Renaissance period took place from 1660 until 1750. There were various different people during this time that helped influence the design aspects. Charles II and James II aided in the restoration period, William and Mary helped in the age of walnut, and Queen Anne aided in the furniture development. The great fire of 1666 took place at this time, and and it resulted in the burning of a large section of London. Because of this Sir Christopher Wren set new standards of design known as the baroque urban design. This style was strongly influenced by the french. His standards consisted of wall thicknesses, floor heights, and materials were specified. Sir Christopher Wren was the most renowned english architect of all time. Wren's one major masterpiece is the St. Pauls Cathedral. The design of this cathedral has influenced many other church designs. 
       William and Mary was the Age of Walnut. During this time the new standards for furniture arose, and there was beautiful furniture for masses. Upholstery appeared for the first time at this point, and the english oak was replaced with walnut. The furniture has straight, turned legs or cup turned legs. The low horizontal "X-stretcher was common, there was also curved cross stretcher. The veneers were perfected, and marquetry  as well as lacquer work is present. At this point in time they brought about the William and Mary chairs, William and Mary lowboy and highboy. There was a huge oriental influence on their furniture pieces. The fabrics often used were velvet, brocade, chintz, leather, and needlepoint. 

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Extra Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_GeDe0YTog

Neoclassical -Reviews

Angie: I think that Angie did a great job in focusing on the interior aspects of the Neoclassic Style!

Katie: Katie did a great job at included details on all aspects of this style. Including the interiors, as well as the architecture, and furniture as well. 

French Periods-Neoclassic Style

     The Neoclassic style took place from 1760 until 1789. During this time King Louis XV's favorite women turned the rococo style towards classicism. These women included Madame de Pompadour, and Madame du Barry. Madame de Pompadour developed art and architecture in France, and sponsored the work of serves. She is also the one that lead the movement towards eastern products. Madame de Pompadour also suggested the Petite Trianon, although Madame du barry is the one that received it from the aging Louis XV. The architectural style and schemes at the time were rather strict. The walls were painted to look like marble- with dark greens, and reds. With the use of ancient egyptian ornamentation and decorative details, while also incorporating military symbols of roman armies. Although the furniture was more distinctive than the architecture at this time. The interior walls were paneled and painter with outer moldings raised and decorated with classical ornament. The panel corners often had square rosettes, as well as classical arabesques. The colors of the interiors were pale, white, and off white with minor touches of gold. The ornaments and Motifs used during this period were from the roman and greek architecture. 

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Extra Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgrFpesb5Hc

French Periods- Baroque Style- Reviews

Savannah: I really liked that savannah went into a great detail on the Palais de Versailles. I also really like the pictures she chose, I think that they really demonstrate a royal "taste" that is used during this time period

Holli: I think that Holli did a great job at going into a lot of detail on everything during this period. She went into so much detail on both the interior designs, as well as the historical people of this time. 

French Periods- Baroque Style

      During this era, rulers influence was more important than the religious and political factors. Royal "taste" is what determined their design styles at this time. The Baroque style was used during this time which was known as "The Golden Age," and it was led by Louis XIV. Louis XII died in 1643, and Louis  XIV was proclaimed the king at only 5 years old. 
      The Palais de Versailles was built during this time, and it was considered the original hunting ground. The interiors during this time gave off a very royal appearance. The public rooms had the same interior appearances to them. They had a classical architecture style as well as the decorations. They had very regal dimensions such as, 15' ceilings, and 11' doors. There design was mainly symmetrical , with balanced doors and windows. These rooms can be summed up with the words large and dignified. The hall of mirrors (Galerie des Glaces) had a barrel vault ceiling, the windows matched the mirrors, and the furniture chandeliers, sconces, and planters were all solid silver. They also used a royal "L" monogram at this time for the interiors. Color was definitely emphasized in the architecture. They commonly used colored marble, and pilaster shafts. The paneling was usually white, off white, gray with moldings, or carved ornament gilding. While the brighter colors were used in paintings, tapestries, and rugs, and the furniture was usually placed against the walls and pulled out as needed. 
      The furniture during this time was most commonly made by Andre Charles Boulle, and he was considered the chief cabinetmaker. He had the most remarkable work at the place of versailles especially. The materials that were commonly used were Tortoise shell, metal (brass or silver) or ebony. And it was a very lengthy process to make all of this. There was one chair used quite often. This was the Louis XIV chair. It had a high back, which demonstrated a sense of greatness, there was also a wide seat for wider dresses. There was also a Berger chair that was introduced during this time, and its still used today. This chair is an upholstered french arm chair with an upholstered back with armrests on the upholstered frames. Materials during this time were from china and japan. Such as porcelain figures, vases, lacquer work, silk, and screens. 

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Extra Credit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsQK6F7hmJk

French Period 1 - Reviews

Claire: I really liked how Claire noted that the interiors weren't the only important thing during this time, and then went on to go into detail on why she stated this. 

Haley: I think that Haley did a great job in terms of going into details on the architectural elements during this time, and the typical styles for the chateaus. 

French Period 1

      In other countries interior design was determined by religious and political history. Although during the french periods the rulers influenced the most pervasive design. During this time the royal "taste" determined the design styles, and France was central to romanesque and gothic style. During the early renaissance it was a transitional style from gothic to renaissance. They focused on designing a luxurious room that was consistent and harmonious although, it was a complex job. During this time they brought about the profession known as the decorator. This position required a person who could not only conceive an interior design, but through the process of "engraving" explaining the design to a client. There was a famous patron of the arts known as Francois I. He implemented the transitional style which was going from the gothic forms to the renaissance forms. He designed the Loire Valley in Paris. He was also the one that constructed the Chateau de Fontainebleau, as well as the Chateau de Blois. The architecture styles in the France periods had no need for new religious structures-the just built new palaces and chateaux. The exteriors became a very important part when designing. The weather in these locations also needed to be taken into consideration, because it required them to have steep roofs, many chimneys, and many  large windows, and these roofs often had two slopes with dormer windows. Although, the interiors did not often reflect the exterior styles which isn't typical in todays world. Francois I began construction on the Chateau Chambord, which was a royal hunting lodge in the loire valley. It consisted of 44 rooms, 84 staircases, and 365 chimneys. While the estate was 14,300 acres of forest, lakes and grassland enclosed by a 22 mile long wall. This building was considered the larges and most majestic of the chateaus. It was also the meeting place of Francois I and Leonardo Da Vinci. This chateau was partially designed by Leonardo Da Vinci. The Chateau de Blois was also constructed during this time. It was an italian prototype with depressed arches. It consisted of low relief ornamentation, asymmetrical organization of openings, the initial "H" flooring, classical pilasters, entablatures, and the Henri IV bedroom. Although, the chateaus most renowned feature was the spiral in the Francois I wing. Also, this is where King Henri III and Henri IV lived.

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Extra Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te8u5B2vLts

Spanish Renaissance - Reviews

Haley: I really liked that haley went into detail on the various different styles during this period, as well as the interiors during this time.

Krista: I really like the way that she split her blog up wight he pictures and words. I also really like the amount of detail she used while explaining the interiors. 

Spanish Renaissance

      This spanish renaissance was influenced by the Moorish, Early Christian, Medieval, and the Italian Renaissance. The cathedral of seville was located in seville, and was the largest cathedral in the world during this century. It was a traditional gothic style, and was larger than the Hagia Sophia. This building demonstrated the cities great wealth. This cathedral had 80 chapels-500 masses daily with a vaulted ceiling, as well as rajas which are decorative iron grilles. During this time there were two different phases. The first phase being the plateresco phase (silversmiths style). This style was gothic in its construction, with minute and delicate ornament resembled the work of a silversmith. It was used on exteriors, patios, churches, public buildings, and furniture, as well as accessories. The second phase was the Desornamentado phase. This had a very powerful style characterized by austerity. It was applied to court, ecclesiastical and public buildings. It as also had carefully defined proportions. There was another style known as the baroque style which was meant to replace the desornamentado with something more passionate. It was promoted by a family of craftsmen named churrigurea. It had a Churrigueresco style of surface decoration. It also applied to the exterior doorways, interior decorations, and churches. The motifs used in this style were based of natural objects. The use of grill work was very important and was only used during this time period specifically. The interior during this time had the most artistic features. They had colored tiles, ceilings with painted and carved paneling. The plasterwork was white with decorative borders or frames around all of the doors and windows. Floors were in stone, tile, brick or wood. They were also very known for their fine leather work, as well as their oil paintings with richly covered massive gold frames. Furniture during this time was made up of detailed inlay work, as well as carvings, and painting and gilding. 

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Extra Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWvau5POVd0

Italian Renaissance - Reviews

Madelyn: I really liked how she went into a lot of detain on explaining about Leonardo Da'Vinci. I also really liked the images she chose for her current applications. 

Alex: I really liked that Alex talked about the detail going into what makes up the Florence Cathedral. 

Italian Renaissance 

      The Italian Renaissance period took place from 1400 until 1600. It was considered the "rebirth" which began in florence, Italy. During this time the Roman Catholic church became very powerful, there was also a big movement towards humanism, and residential design began to get a lot more popular. Everyone through Italy was interested in the arts; the rich and the poor. In regards to their design style they centered it around comfort, convenience and beauty instead of safety, strength, and protection. 
      One of the finest achievements of the Italian Renaissance was the Italian Renaissance palace (Palazzo). This palace had power and influences of the prominent families such as the medici family. Lorenzo de' Medici was a prominent family, business man, banker, and patron of the arts.  The florence Cathedral was also a very important architectural building during this time. It was constructed by brunellschi who was an architect, sculptor, and mechanical engineer. He was the first acknowledged renaissance architect. Also, this building was inspired by the pantheon. These all followed the renaissance palazzo facade-referring to the general shape, proportion and a cluster of characteristics, rather than a specific design.  Such as symmetry, compound repeated window, as well as project cornice. 

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Extra Credit:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bWMpG5d-s8

China- Reviews

Emma: I enjoyed how she broke her writing up by pictures so you weren't just reading the whole time. She also provided great detail about the furniture during this period!

Savannah: I think she did a great job at explaining why the wall was built, and the materials used during this period!

The Americas - Reviews

Katie: I really liked how detailed Katie was, she provided so much detail on each of the specific architecture styles! 

Haley: I liked how Haley broke hers up into separate paragraphs it made it an easier read, also the details she provided about the history of the Civilization was really neat!

China - India

     The Chinese civilization was from 1600 BC until 1912 AD, and it was the worlds longest continuous civilization. They made use of the stupa during this time, a stupa is a mound of dirt such as a burial ground where a more permanent structure can be build over the mound. This stupa came to china as Budhism spread to that region. During this civilization they acknowledged important people in the buddhist religion, and they also invented the Pagoda-which is a combination of the stupa and Chinese tower building. The Great Wall of China was built during this time, and it included watch towers, which was built along the northern border of china.  The fortification was built of stone, brick, wood, mud and earth. 
     The Chinese interiors of both the residential and commercial buildings were based on a "courtyard" building style. The form of furniture was very light, beautiful, and stable. During this time they used the folding chair, as well as the yoke back chair. Chinese also made use of the versatile pieces of furniture such as the bed. In production of their chairs they used the following materials: huali wood, lacquer, ceramic, and bamboo. 
      India had similar architectural techniques during this time. To begin wight why had a stupa which is a mound of dirt that housed sacred relics. Although, the stupa didn't provide space for the visitors. During the India civilization there was a lack of furniture. People usually just sat ate and sleep on the floor. 

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Extra Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEbZ5Y-sxAo

The Americas

      The Americas came about in 2000 BC until 1521 AD. There were 4 different cultures of this time: The Olmecs, Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans. In these areas the temples provided spatial orientation for the towns, and the pyramids were meant to stand out and represent god and powers of regions. The people of this time followed a polytheistic way of life meaning, they belief/worship of more than one god. They also, believed in human sacrifice during this time period. 

      The Olmecs was the first major civilization in Mexico, taking place from 2000 BC to 200 BC. They were often referred to as people of the rubber country because they were the first to use rubber, and they used a lot of it at this time. The Olmecs during this time also developed the hieroglyphical writing style, as well as the first calendar in the western hemisphere. The Olmecs also had a temple focus city type at this time. The first example of this type of city was the 'La Venta.' The Olmecs artwork consisted of delicate carvings of jade, rock crystal, and less valuable stone. They also made up ax heads, masks, and decoration objects. Also, with the Olmecs culture the elites lived in highly decorated homes and they wore elegant jewelry ad clothing. While the commoners lived in "homes" made of stick and mud.

The next civilization was Teotihuacan, which took place from 250 BC to 900 AD. Their city was known as the 'place of gods,' until it was abruptly deserted. Their city was laid out differently than the Olmecs, theirs was in a grid style. Following the Teotihuacan civilization was the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas. 

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Extra Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEvP5XIKuRc

Gothic - Reviews

Lisa: I really liked how far in detail she went in regards to the cathedrals and how people felt in them. I also really liked that she wrote what exactly her pictures where of. 

Katie: I think that she did a really good at explaining all of the cathedrals, and the specific styles that they used. 

Gothic

      During the gothic time period paris was considered the center of the gothic world, while churches were the center of the city life. Creating new rivals between the city states and nations. During this time religion was the heart of the design. Wealth and power was strongly shown in these churches, although the larger numbers of worshipers required larger worship spaces. The architecture during this time was very important, and it was commonly though to be birthed from the romanesque architecture. They began using pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and fly buttresses. The rose window was also a very important aspect to the cathedrals during this time, as well as the tracery. The tracery is just the spaces between the stain glass windows. Cathedral buildings during this period were very tall with many stain glass windows, they also appeared to be very weightless. A few of the most popular cathedrals during this time were: Notre Dame Cathedral, Wells Cathedral, Regensburg Cathedral, Barcelona Cathedral, and Siena Cathedral. 
      Although the residential areas during this time were a little different. Very few of these homes still stand today. The interiors of the homes are very rich in color, materials, and decorations as well. A very common decoration is the linenfold motif that is apparent on various different furniture pieces. They also have evidence of tracery, which is similar to the cathedrals. The gothic time period is strongly known for the invention of the cupboard as well. 

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Extra Credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwKg4ESvYG4