OPUS 8

Baroque and Rocco designs and architecture were revisions of Renaissance architecture. During this time designers took what they knew from the renaissance period, yet broke the rules beginning to design things more "out of the box." With these new, modern forms they exercised their "newly won artistic prerogative to invent." (Roth 397) Some of the revisions included designing along the horizontal - not the vertical - as far as the eye could see. Another revision was how important stairs became architecturally. Designers built expansive, decorated rooms for stairs alone (Roth 424), and in German and Austrian Baroque designs, the staircase was actually the most developed feature. (Roth 426)



The transition from Renaissance to Baroque architecture was not widely accepted. Some thought it was too highly ornamented; to complex and elaborate when compared to the preceding form of architecture. (Roth 397) The Renaissance architecture was easy to perceive, and was very understandable, while the transition into Baroque was more about emotional understanding and connections, and even evoked a sense of mystery. (Roth 398) Roth even states that "Baroque buildings are so complex that they cannot be understood or comprehended in a single glance." (Roth 414)



Through the reading, and as I have already stated, it was expressed that the emotional impact and connections to the audience was very important. (Roth 398) The use of embellishments, as well as the multitude of materials and paint effects used, were all present to effect the audience. This did have an effect on the audience, in fact much of the architecture from this time was misunderstood and widely disliked. On a separate note, the audience even played a role in the construction of the Piazza of Saint Peter's. There was a wide semi-oval which directed people toward the church, acting as "motherly arms of the church" which welcomed the worshipers. (Roth 409)



There is quite a strong character to the Baroque architecture as well. At this time, designs were very elaborate and plastically designed, and this create a story and character in the architecture. (Roth 397) One of the most fascinating ways in which Baroque and Rocco architecture displayed character in a space was the act of using motion in paintings on walls, and in sculptures. As we discussed in class, the sculpture of David by Michelangelo is widely known and appreciated for expressing David, and following the rules while doing so. However, the statue of David by Bernini expresses David's character in that it is a depiction of David in motion, at the height of his battle.

The datum which was written down and recorded - by Palladio for instance - in during the period of Renaissance architecture was severely ignored during the Baroque and Rocco periods of architecture. To the point, in fact that architects began to break all of the rules and think, as we have discussed this week in class, 'outside the box.' Most architects and designers did this by playing tricks on the eye with the use of optical illusions such as perspective painting, for example. They also began to depict people in statues and paintings as being in motion, and they made some surfaces so complex that there were no dull areas on them.

The transitions made from the Renaissance to the Baroque and Rocco periods of architecture were not initially accepted. While the designers were ready to 'more outside the box,' their audience was not. In fact, many people disliked and discredited these designs at first, giving them derogatory terms. These new visions did become accepted, however. Still, the initial dislike of new visions in architecture is common even to this day. I have learned that many people dislike the twentieth century designs being built today, still preferring older, more classical themes.