The Influence of the Stuart Monarchy on Renaissance Architecture - Essay Example

?The Influence of the Stuart Monarchy on Renaissance Architecture Several monarchies have played vital roles in the field of Architecture and a particular monarch or monarchy that reigned during a particular period usually played their own roles in developing the works of architect and improving the field of Architecture. This brings us to the influence that the Stuart Monarchy had on Architecture and the giant strides played by the Stuart Monarchy on Renaissance Architecture in Britain. During the period of the fifteenth and early seventeenth centuries in Europe, there was the rebirth of classical culture in all aspects of life, including literature, painting, sculpture and architecture. The renaissance took place at different times in different parts of the world. Whenever Renaissance is mentioned, it must be remembered that it has to do with the conscious revival of certain aspects of the cultures of ancient Greek and ancient Roman societies. In terms of timeframe and order of occurrence, renaissance architecture came after Gothic literature. Some of the distinguishing features of renaissance architecture (like classical architecture) include precision of measurement and proportion and symmetry. All these features also took place during the British Renaissance. Renaissance got to Britain during the reign of Elizabeth I. Its advent in Britain can be said to have been influenced by Stuart courts and Monarchy. One must not however fail to realize that although renaissance Britain was the rebirth of classical culture, the purposes of the architecture peculiar to both of them are for different reasons. One of the most memorable attributes of the Stuart monarchy is that they brought to Britain, during their reign, influences from all over Europe and even influences from outside Europe. The implication of this is that, when one wants to consider their influence on British Architecture, it means indirectly that one is to consider the influence of other cultures on British Architecture. When the Stuarts were ruling Britain, the country became a floodgate for the architectural designs that were started in other parts of the world. In actuality, renaissance was not to the British. The rebirth that took place in Britain was only the direct consequence of the events that had taken place and happened earlier in Italy and France. In the first place, if there was never the Greek or Roman civilization, there would never have been anything like Renaissance in any part of the world, let alone in Britain. 1 The essence of all that has been aforementioned is that if the Stuarts rulers had not been so friendly to the arts or if they had not welcomed the architectural designs from other parts of the world, the notion of renaissance Britain may not have been possible in the first instance. 3 Some of the influences that the Stuarts took on include those from the Netherlands, France, Germany and Italy. Then, the influence of other climes was so much that in a single building the building designs of more than one country can be combined. For example, the design of the French and the Italians may be combined in the British Renaissance Architecture design style and this is due to the fact that the Stuarts actually combined the designs of the French and the Italians in moulding the British Renaissance Architecture into what it became. The influence of the Stuart monarchy may be said to be most eminent during the Elizabethan period which marked the beginning of Renaissance in Britain. The round arch which was one of the ensigns of the architecture that emerged during the reign of the Stuart monarchy also resurfaced during the Elizabethan period.1 Yet it does not negate the fact that the Elizabethan period itself had features that were self-generated. One of the features of the architecture of the Elizabethans that shows that not all the architectural structures of the period were a direct influence of the Stuart monarchy is the fact that most windows and doors during the period were round-headed. On the other hand, as it was during this period that the Stuart courts and monarchy exerted direct influence on the designs that Decorative globe of the period took. The designs that dominated this period were adopted from Amsterdam. This particular design did not die with the Elizabethan period; it was still in existence even till the Caroline Period. The renaissance architecture would not have been so remarkable, if there were no professional to help the resurgence of classical culture. 2 One of such people whose impact can never be pushed aside is Inigo Jones, a surveyor of the Royal Works. 2 It was Jones that actually initiated the Palladian classicism. Palladian architecture is the architecture which was originally created by Andrea Palladio. 4 Britain did not embrace the Palladian architecture until the century that followed the one that Jones introduced. The coming to the fore of the Palladian architecture was partly as a result of significance that the British architects felt this resurgence architecture would have on their art and culture. This is in spite of the fact that, by the time Britain was embracing the architecture reintroduced by Jones, it had already shifted from being classic to being baroque in Italy. Even though the Palladian architecture did not stay in Britain for a long time, it is still on record that it was there. The Palladian architecture, itself, came into existence as a result of the influence of the Stuart court and monarchy. If the Stuarts in their time had countered it, it would not have become a reality a century after Jones introduced it. As the second Stuart king to rule Britain, Charles I, the son of James I spent a lot on the arts. It is in the annals of history that he brought a huge number of paintings from notable painters. Charles I also invited Van Dyck, the artist, and a number of other individuals in the creative industry to Britain. These are just a tip of the iceberg on the role that the Stuart monarchy actually played in contributing to the field of arts in Britain during this period. All these and more are pointers to the fact that Charles I had great love for the art. In spite of the fact that his reign may not have been a great success, the architectural achievements that he had during his reign became re-echoed in Renaissance Britain. The influence of the Stuart monarchy on Renaissance architecture may be said to be the most felt during this period and even beyond. One of the most distinguishing architecture of the period that validates this argument is the Gothic Perpendicular architecture. This architecture is often marked out by their straight vertical, horizontal lines and prominent window casements. Other feature that was prominent about the Gothic Perpendicular architecture is their arches which were usually flat and their crenulated flat roofs. Between 1550 and 1660, when Britain became a protestant nation, a lot of changes occurred in the country. These changes did not leave out architecture. There was a great decline in the number of catholic churches; the buildings that were formally churches became owned by individuals. In line with the tenets of renaissance, great buildings were constructed instead of these places of worship. Most of the individuals and organisations that wanted to construct buildings wanted to do so in line with the new architectural style that emerged from Italy. People desired to key into the renaissance in Italy. This was how the renaissance outlook gradually took prominence. It must be stated that all that occurred in Renaissance Britain would not have happened if there was never a line of Stuart rulers. The fact that the Stuarts ruled Britain at one point in her history is however not as important as the impact they made. During the Elizabethan period, tearing down of old building and building of brand new one became commonplace. 5 This was one of the evidence of the influence which the Stuart courts had on renaissance Britain. The practice of pulling down old structures and starting new ones became so common that it took on the name “Great Re-building”. 5 Not only the well-to-do were upgrading the quality of their buildings, those that didn’t have so much also tried to upgrade their buildings. For them, this translated to the construction of more chimneys and glassy windows in their building. Their houses created room for more privacy. It was a model case of upgrade of classes. It cannot be overemphasised that the Stuart monarchy was very friendly towards the arts. 3 The pick-and-mix approach adopted by Stuart kings towards architecture had a huge effect on the development and exposure of the British architects on their art. The Stuart monarchs were instrumental in the opening of Britain to the outside world, especially the continent of Europe. Although the revival of the architecture of the ancient Greeks and ancient Romans arrived late in Britain, Stuart kings deserve to be thanked. Although amongst the other Stuart rulers, Charles I was particularly woeful in performance, it must be stated that the free hand they gave the architecture, directly or indirectly, aided the eventual emergence of renaissance in Britain. Thus, if one looks back in time, one would appreciate the influence that the Stuart Monarchy had on Renaissance Architecture as without them; there probably have been no Renaissance of Architecture in Britain. Endnotes 1. C Trewin, World Architecture, 1963, Octopus Books, Hamlyn, Page 243 2. E Panofsky, Renaissance and Renascences in Western Art, Harper and Row, New York, 1960, p. 23 3. H.W Janson; A.F Janson, History of Art, Harry N. Abrams, New York, 1997, p.134 4. J Summerson, Architecture in Britain 1530–1830, 1977 ed., Pelican, New Orleans. pp. 43-48 5. P Colin. The Great Rebuildings of the Tudor and Stuart England: Revolutions in Architectural Tatse. Routledge, London, 1994, p 37. Bibliography Graham P., The Golden Age Restor’d: The Culture of the Stuart Court, 1603-42. Manchester, 1981. Harris J., Orgel S. and Strong R., The King’s Arcadia: Inigo Jones and the Stuart Court. London. 1973 The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy, 1860, English translation, by SGC Middlemore, in 2 vols., London, 1878, p.76 W.G Hoskins (1953). "The Rebuilding of Rural England, 1570-1640". Past and Present 4: 44–59. Read More