Character of Renaissance ArchitectureMoore, Charles Herbert
History
Character of Renaissance Architecture
Moore, Charles Herbert
Architecture, Renaissance
Among examples of north Italian Renaissance palace architecture outside
of Venice the well-known Palazzo del Consiglio of Verona (Plate VIII)
presents a mediæval broletto scheme dressed out in Renaissance details
which it would be better without. The building has but one story over
an open arcaded basement. The arcade is in two divisions of four
arches each, the arches springing from short columns raised on square
pedestals, and the pedestals connected by a balustrade. A central
pier and a pier at each end enclose these divisions, and on the face
of each pier is a shallow pilaster supporting a narrow entablature
which extends across the whole front, with a corbelled capital over
the central column of each division to support the entablature in
the long intervals between the pilasters. The upper story is divided
into four equal parts by pilasters set over the pilasters and corbels
of the basement. These pilasters are on ressauts of a podium over
corresponding ressauts in the entablature below, and the crowning
entablature is likewise broken with ressauts. A twin-arched opening
with central colonnette, flanked by pilasters and crowned with an
entablature and curved pediment, occupies the middle of each division
of this story, and the walls are incrusted with elaborate marble inlay.
The general form and proportions of this monument are exceedingly
fine, but in respect to these qualities it belongs to the Middle
Ages and not to the Renaissance. To the simple arcade and plain
walled superstructure the neo-classic details are inappropriate and
meaningless.
[Illustration: FIG. 94.--One bay of basement of the
Ospedale Maggiore.]
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