Raja Ravi Varma's Influence on the Revival of Modern Indian Art
“It is therefore indisputable that the limbs of architecture are derived from the limbs of man.” - Michelangelo
St. Peter’s Basilica or The Basilica of Saint Petrus is the largest and one of the holiest monuments of the Catholic tradition. It is a marvel from the Renaissance period that is said to be the burial site of St. Petrus, Jesus’ Chief Disciple. Originally, the basilica was built by Constantine the Great upon his conversion to Christianity. After more than a thousand years of deterioration, Pope Nicholas V ordered a new structure to be built in its place, the responsibility for which fell upon Bernardo Russellini at first.
It took around 120 years for the construction of the majestic holy monument. During this time, a lot of eminent personalities of the time, such as Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donato Bramane were involved with the designing and construction of the project, which faced a plethora of changes and challenges. Despite that, when the basilica was finally constructed, it instantly illuminated the path of Christians across Europe through its beauty and heritage.
What Makes Saint Peter’s Basilica a Characteristic Renaissance Architecture?
Renaissance style of architecture is known for its structural integrity, symmetry in design, proportional geometry, and a concurrent arrangement of columns, lentils, and pilasters. This integrated and orderly arrangement is a characteristic feature of Renaissance architecture, which also reflects a clear influence of classical Greco-Roman architectural design. Moreover, the word basilica was also originally used to refer to the oblong Roman architecture of the classical time.
However, while renaissance architects borrowed heavily from the engineering and designing concepts of the Classical times, they also integrated elements of Gothic architecture of the middle ages and experimented with new designs and changes, thereby leading to a veritable transformation of the original classical designs.
The Transformation of St. Peter’s Basilica
- 1. The magnitude of the cities evolved from the simplistic buildings of Greek and Roman tradition to form more dynamic, intricate, and extensive city structures that included wider roads, public bathhouses, and massive sporting fixtures for the exclusive purpose of leisure and entertainment.
2. The inclusion of domes became an important part of the cathedrals and basilicas in Florence to reflect their aesthetic beauty and heritage. St. Peter’s Basilica also points to this change.
- 3. In some ways, domes and frescoes replaced the significance given to the sculpted figures and were in turn used in most of the structures to exhibit the elegance and riches of the local powers and the Church.
- 4. Basements, ground floors, and corners of the renaissance buildings were often rusticated, in contrast with the smooth ashlar masonry. Again, both of these changes betray the transformation of Renaissance architecture through Basilica.
- 5. Another difference between the two Basilicas that indicates the changes due to the renaissance is the replacement of complex proportional systems with semi-circular arches, niches, and aedicule.
Cause of Transformation
From both a macroscopic and a specific point of view, the changes in design throughout the renaissance were inspired by both the re-discovery of classical texts and the development of new architectural theories such as De Re Aedificatoria (On the Subject of Building) by Leon Battista Alberti. The quick propagation of these ideas due to the development of the Gutenberg Printing Press in 1440 led to a change in the entire structure of society, as can be seen in the development of art, craft, and philosophy. The changes in architecture were therefore very comprehensive as well. Since St. Peter's Basilica reflects a majority of this comprehensive transformation and architectural design changes influenced by the renaissance it, therefore, becomes imperative to acknowledge it as a monument that defines Renaissance architecture.
