Baroque Architecture - Essay Example

Understanding Sant’Ivo all Sapienza as a Masterpiece of Roman Baroque Architecture: A Research Paper Introduction The evolution and development of the baroque architecture is quiet vast and wider in terms of history. In order to evaluate its technicalities, it is better to evaluate a masterpiece of baroque architecture. The aim of this research paper is to assess baroque architecture through the context of Sant’Ivo all Sapienza as an exemplary landmark and masterpiece of baroque styled architecture. Baroque architecture has a lot of details and characteristics that are evident from the masterpiece entitled Sant’Ivo all Sapienza which will be discussed in an in-depth manner. As a matter of fact, Sant’Ivo all Sapienza is a Roman Catholic Church which has been designed by Francesco Borromini who made a great continuation to the baroque architecture through the creation of this church. Special consideration for evaluation has been given to the features of baroque architecture including spacing, windows, details through geometrical shapes, lighting, indication and symbols etc. The design of Sant’Ivo all Sapienza may look very easy to understand but the techniques used by following the rules of baroque architecture clearly made it technical. To start with, the designers and creators followed the existing palazzo to revamp and reintroduce the architectural techniques to the Church. The basis of architecture or the baroque techniques utilized Star of David or also known as the modern Jewish society symbol to undertake concealing. It should be noted that the design of the Sant’Ivo all Sapienza was carved and fully merged with the help of the hexagonal Star of David with façade of the church (Bernini). In addition, it can be well stated that the Church created an exemplary detail of lantern which was never used before in the baroque architecture. In simpler words, it can be said that the designer of the Sant’Ivo all Sapienza actually allowed the baroque architecture to take a roman stylistic in its grasp. It was for this reason that a corkscrew lantern was used in the midst of the dome. The critics have claimed that the building of Sant’Ivo all Sapienza is a good example of rational design. Such claims were posed in order to define the complexity of the design which can only be noted on the paper. Apparently, the design of the building does not seem intricate. However, with the focus on the layered shapes, it becomes easy to understand that the focus has been kept on the clear structures and wider stances to make new variations. This makes it evident that baroque architecture allowed architects to assimilate their influences into structures (Emmons, Hendrix and Lomholt). In order to understand the basis of the design of the Sant’Ivo all Sapienza, it is important to note that the designer used two different circles that overlapped. These circles were made overlapped to each other so that they could easily magnify and gain a strong grip with the equilateral triangles. This makes it quite evident that the usage of circles and triangles was to make a firm base of the hexagon which was the ultimate philosophy of the design. In order to make sure that the triangles were in firm mergence with circles, effective Thus, it becomes easier to notice that the technicalities of the baroque architecture were fully followed by the designer in the Sant’Ivo all Sapienza (Garwood). The architecture of Sant’Ivo all Sapienza has been well acclaimed among great architects. It was because the Church had two levels of interiors because of the jamming of triangles and circles. The two arrays included concave and convex spacing for interior. With the help of geometrical shapes, the interior process was undertaken where the motifs of baroque architecture are visible. For instance, the usage of geometrical stars is evident from every nook and corner of the Church. Inclusive of the dome, there are three distinctive pillars which were also incorporated in the roman baroque architecture of the Sant’Ivo all Sapienza. It should also be noted here that the interior was greatly evident form shapes of rotunda. This is undoubtedly the most significant feature of baroque architecture that had been fully implied in the church (Garwood and Hole). Another important feature of the baroque architecture used in Sant’Ivo all Sapienza was enhancement of distinction between shapes using geometry. One can notice that the distinction between the styles is evident from three angles of the triangles. This is one of the common features of baroque architecture that have been followed by many designers and architects over the time. There are great intervals among the shapes but the fact remains that these shapes are completely shown in a different manner (Jones, Murray and Murray). Windows remains as the most detailed element of the baroque architecture. In most of the building which are designed on the basis of baroque architecture have different and detailed windows. Likewise, one can notice that the Sant’Ivo all Sapienza has also variety of details when it comes to windows. The circular dome of the Sant’Ivo all Sapienza has very large windows in comparison with those at the columns with curves. On the other hand, windows at the edges are relatively smaller which makes it evident that the detailing has been given a great stress by the designers (Riegl). Herein, it should also be noted that spacing and lighting are two very significant features of baroque architecture. This is evident from the design and architecture of the Sant’Ivo all Sapienza as the lantern in the dome reflects light inside the church. With the help of the reflection of church light, the space is easily and perfectly identified. Furthermore, it is worth discussing that the symbols used in the design and geometrical shapes of the church are indicating family names. For instance, the lantern on the roof beholds an indication of the family symbol of Urban VIII. In this manner, one can easily notice that baroque architecture allows the designers to incorporate styles and dedication to the building which is a significant aspect of baroque architecture (Grafton, Most and Settis). Furthermore, analysis of the pieces used as interior in the church is very significant in here. As per analysis of the researches regarding the Sant’Ivo all Sapienza, it becomes evident that sculptures and motifs were widely used inside the dome. Special shapes carved on the walls with geometrical stars (an evident feature of the baroque architecture) goes up to the pillars. On the dome, it can be seen that the angels were painted. These created a magnificent impact on the interior giving a more holy and roman look to the architecture. Such flexibility of design, interior and spacing is only possible in the baroque architecture (Mormando). The dome and the pillars have been raised during the design of the Sant’Ivo all Sapienza because the main focus was to allow the alleyway to see the elevated look of the church. This is a feature of baroque architecture that created a distinction from the renaissance era. Baroque architecture allowed the church to use centers in different manner unlike the previous designs. It becomes evident that even in the baroque architecture, the traditions and notions of the Romans remained intact. In other words, the ethical perspective regarding the church design remains same as demanded in the roman society during the time of construction of the Sant’Ivo all Sapienza. It is due to this reason that the maintenance of the church was kept at the edge of the alley presenting a new stylistics. Alley and alters were given different style of construction. This has been very different in the present times. The façade in particular has been kept concave allowing the interior and exterior to take a developed and expressed structure. The top of the dome has been actually influence by the foam of cream with a cross on the top. This gives a clean and crisp look to the design and architecture of the Sant’Ivo all Sapienza. Such an explanation of design and architecture is surely a contribution to baroque architecture. Likewise, it was noted that similarly designed churches and patterns were used. Herein, design and architecture remains as the most important factor in the history of roman design and architecture incorporating baroque architecture (Emmons, Hendrix and Lomholt). Conclusion Through the above analysis, it can be well stated that the baroque architecture had a number of features and stylistics. These stylistics and features included the base frames, geometrical detailing, windows, spacing, lighting etc. These features have been well appointed by the architects and designers over the years. In order to understand baroque architecture and its important features, it is highly suggested that researchers make use of examples and great masterpieces of the baroque architecture. It was the similar pattern or aspect that has been studied in this paper. The Sant’Ivo all Sapienza was evaluated in terms of architecture and design that provided clearly understanding of technicalities and features of baroque architecture. It should be noted that the evolution and development of the baroque architecture has been undertake over the years. Let alone the example of the Sant’Ivo all Sapienza, being a masterpiece of baroque architecture, marks that various contributions have been introduced. Works Cited Bernini, Domenico. The Life of Gian Lorenzo Bernini: A Translation and Critical Edition, with Introduction and Commentary, by Franco Mormando. New York: Penn State Press, 2012. Print. Emmons, Paul, John Hendrix and Jane. Lomholt. The Cultural Role of Architecture. Washington DC.: Routledge, 2012. Print. Garwood, Duncan and Abigail. Hole. Lonely Planet Rome. New York: Lonely Planet, 2012. Print. Garwood, Duncan. Rome. California: Lonely Planet, 2010. Print. Grafton, Anthony, Glenn Most and Salvatore. Settis. The Classical Tradition. London: Harvard University Press, 2010. Print. Jones, Tom Devonshire, Linda Murray and Peter. Murray. The Oxford Dictionary of Christian Art and Architecture. London: Oxford University Press, 2013. Print. Mormando, Franco. Bernini: His Life and His Rome. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2011. Print. Riegl, Alois. The Origins of Baroque Art in Rome. New York: Getty Publications, 2010. Print. Read More