History of Architecture Nottingham Trent University

History of Architecture Nottingham Trent University Dr James McQuillan, RIBA Baroque Architecture 2: Guarini, Blondel & Perrault, Wren & Hawksmoor, B. A. Vittone Bernini’s Baldacchino, St. Peter’s. Guarino Guarini, CR, (1624-1683) Camillo-Guarino Guarini was born in Modena, and joined the Theatine Order, being trained in Rome. He was a prolific writer on philosophy, mathematics and astronomy, with a posthumous treatise on architecture, edited by Vittone. He was called to Torino by the Duke of Savoy & Pr. of Piedmont, to design the Chapel of the Most Holy Shroud, between the nave of the Cath. of St. John, and the Palace. The Chapel of the Holy Shroud, Torino, possession of the Savoy Family, future Kings of Italy. Is the Shroud by da Vinci? Palazzo Carignano, Torino, for The Duke’s brother, based on Bernini’s design for the E, Front of the Louvre. Note stars in brick , like Borromini in Rome. Ch. of S. Lorenzo, beside Royal Palace, Theatine Hse., which GG designed. Very complicated combination of structures, with four lateral arches to carry Dome above Nicolas-François Blondel, 1617-1686 A soldier and sailor of the French Crown, he was Maréchal de Camp (brigadier-general) before he went into the Civil Service, being appointed to run the Academie royal d’Architecture in 1769. He published the Cour d’Architecture in 167 and there he criticised Claude Perrault, who had proposed a simplified system of proportions in his edition of Vitruvius. He also criticised the use of double columns on the façade of the E. Front of the Louvre, by Perrault and others. Blondel travelled across Europe to Constantinople ( a spy?), Rome and Malta where his brother Mederico was a Knight & Archt. He advised on fortifications, and wrote a book on throwing Bombes (shells), which was not correct. He was unable to overcome Perrault’s mistakes on proportion, as he was not a mathematician, but a physician, and somehow allowed to build through Court power. Claude Perrault (1613-1688) Perrault was trained as a doctor and then published on Architecture, on Vitruvius, 1673, and on the five orders, 1688. The E. Front of the Louvre has double columns and simplified proportions, later adopted everywhere. Bernini’s design was not used. Wren & Hawksmoor Wren was the best geometer in England before becoming an architect – he visited France in 1666. He tried to replan London, and built St. Paul’s there. Great imagination used to interpret Gothic models of variety in spires. Greenwich for the Power of Royal Navy in early 18th. century Hawksmoor’s great power is manifest in his work. Restored towers to W’minister Abbey. B. A. Vittone, (1702-1770) Bernardo Antonio Vittone was the last architect of the Baroque, trained at San Luca Convent in Bra, above, in Rome. He edited the treatise of Guarini, and & Chiesa di Santo followed in his footsteps. Wrote two treatises Chiara himself, and tho’ not the Royal Archt., built many on left, Bra. Churches throughout Piedmont. Town Hall in Bra, on Mediaeval core, rebuilt by BA Vittone, and detail of Altar, Convent in Bra, right. Santa Chiara Ch., Bra. in Convent outside the town. Delicate and considered decoration and modelling, with use of double domes and spaces for light...

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