Review English Period

Holli- She did a good job at summarizing Sir Christopher Wren and William Mary during this time period. Her extra credit video was very interesting to watch as we got to see hidden rooms inside the St. Pauls Cathedral.

Angie- She did great at summarizing the Middle English Renaissance period. Also her extra credit video was neat to watch because it showed me how to make a Chippendale chair in Sketch Up.

English Period- Middle Renaissance- Sir Christopher Wren

Sir Christopher Wren was an English scientist and mathematician and one of Britain's most distinguished architects, he was know for the design of many London churches, including St Pauls Cathedral. Wren's interest in architecture began from his study of physics and engineering. In 1664 and 1665, Wren was commissioned to design the Sheldonian Theater in Oxford and a chapel for Pembroke College, Cambridge and from then on, architecture was his main focus. In 1655, Wren went and visited Paris, where he was strongly influenced by French and the Italian Baroque styles. In 1666, the Great Fire of London destroyed much of the medieval  city, providing Wren with a huge opportunity.  

Wren designed 52 churches which influenced other church designs. He developed new standards for housing such as wall thickness, floor heights and materials (bricks) were specified. Wren started zoning and construction regulations during the English mid renaissance period. In 1669. he was appointed surveyor of the royal works which effectively gave him control of all government buildings in the country.


Past pictures:

St. Paul's Cathedral 

                                 

Present pictures: 

Cathedral in Italy 

Reims Cathedral in Paris 

Extra Credit: Wrens Churches
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYV8D007qRc
Resourcehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/wren_christopher.shtml

French Era

French Directoire: Lisa- Her post was short but to the point i like how she went in detail about the interiors. Lisa also had good pictures in her post.

French Rococo: Hailey- Did a good job at explaining and going into detail about the Rococo period. She also had a good video for her extra credit.

French Directoire

The French Directorie style reflected the Revolutionary belief in the values of the republican Rome. They were fashionable to imitate the ancients. Strong influences of Greek furniture was the Klismos chair and the backward roll. Carvings and ornate gold ormolu was not heavily used. The made tripod wrought iron tables,used striped wallpapers and fabrics. Motifs had drums, spears, sheaves of wheat which represented the war and rise of the working class. 

Directoire French interiors are characterized by painted wallpaper instead of the tapestries of earlier French periods, furniture coverings and curtains of cretonne with classic designs in place of brocades and damasks, or magnificent textiles; simple curtain poles, often arrow shaped, not heavy cornices; painted furniture with straight lines or simple mahogany and chestnut; chair backs showing the graceful backward curve from seat to rolled-over chair top ; slender and curved legs like the silver line of a very new moon, the classic type (with outward curve) seen in ancient Egyptian and Greek frescoes.

French Baroque

King Louis XIII passed away in 1643. Next in line to be king was five year old Louis XIV. Throughout his ruling he created a national style of art. This included Jean Baptiste Colbert a french statesman. A venetian glassmaker, also flemish weavers. French workmen during this time could not emigrate and they enforced textile regulations. For all the new styles of art they organized the Academy of Painting and Sculpture, which established a school for 60 children under the Kinds's protection.

One of the most famous buildings in France was Palais de Versailles. It was the original hunting lodge fro Louis XIII. It was started in 1668 and continued for almost a century and was 12 miles southwest of Paris. It housed 10,000 people. Le Vau designed the central block around the original Louis XIII building. 

Louis Le Vau- Architect 

Andre le Notre- Garden Designer 

Charles Lebrun- Painter for the interiors 

Puget- Sculptor 

Jean Berain- Decorative engraving 

Past Pictures- 

Present Pictures- 

Extra Credit:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=852eroBwDrA