Italian Renaissance

This was the period of rebirth and originated in Tuscany in the cities of Florence, Siena and later spread to Venice. It was influenced from the Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman Civilizations. This era shifted from a religious to a secular emphasis and it's a time when residential design became popular. Also, comfort, convenience and beauty was important rather than safety, strength and protection. 

One of the finest achievements of the Italian Renaissance was the Palazzo. Its power and influence came from prominent families. Its facade consisted of repetition, alternation and progression. They had three divisions, compound windows and heavy project cornice on the top. The Medici family was an extremely wealthy family that used their  money to make the city beautiful. The Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence, Italy is a well known palazzo that was known for its stone masonry. 

The Palazzo Medici Riccardi

The interiors in the Palazzo were all centered around an interior courtyard. This era started focusing on making the interiors detailed and decorative using color. The interiors contained frescos, tapestries and fireplaces. Also, characteristics to be found were decorative moldings, doors and door frames, elaborate ceilings, painted wall and ceiling decorations, pilasters, and brick, terra-cotta tile, or marble flooring.

Palazzo Davanza

The Italian Renaissance furniture was portable and sparse. It had inlays of ivory, lapis, marble, onyx and other stones. The finest furniture contained walnut. One of their chairs was called a Sedia. It had straight rectangular legs attached to floor stretchers. Turned baluster or vase-like forms support the front of the arms and was covered in black seat upholstered in velvet, tapestry or ornamented leather. 

Sedia

Trestle tables were the most common tables. They are rectangle in shape and are supported on two heavy and elaborately carved pedestals which is connected by a carved stretcher. It is a refectory table used for dining and it can be extend by pulling out at each end to lengthen the top. 

Trestle Table

For more information about the Italian Renaissance, here is a video that describes the important factors that went on throughout the 14th-16th centuries.

Current Applications:

Lobby

Current day Trestle table

Modern day Sedia chair

Discussion:

I reviewed Kristina P's blog and I learned how living in a palazzo would be like. She mentioned that it included vestibule, prepare shops, summer apt kitchen bathroom storage, grand staircase, and a piano noble. She showed very nice and clear pictures that helped me picture what it would have looked like.  I also looked at Samantha F's blog and she explained well the shift this era had. It went to more a secular emphasis. She said that the shift happened because much of the church had become more powerful and the more powerful it became the more corruption came with it. She also mentioned how the Medici family influenced this era in great detail.