Spanish and French Renaissance
Renaissance is one of history’s shifts that have been recorded over the years. It is a French term that means rebirth. The Renaissance started in Italy in the early 1300s depending upon recapturing the classical civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome. By following the humanist movement, it focuses on building a world that its central values are human beings. Therefore, people worked on improving their own cultures, literature and art (Cox, 2015). The Renaissance had gradually spread northward to other European countries such as Spain and France to finally end around 1650. Although they both considered Italy as a source of inspiration, each country had its own history, concept and design character (Harwood, May …show more content…
Nevertheless, both Spanish and French Renaissance concepts share the Italian Renaissance and the Gothic impact on them. (Harwood, May & Sherman, 2002). Moreover, Spain was influenced by the Moorish heritage which is a variation of Islamic architecture that was named after the Moors, people from North Africa ruled the Iberian Peninsula (National Geographic Society, 2012). By the end of the 16th century, the design of Spanish Renaissance resembled the Italian’s to finally end up following Baroque movement after the Renaissance. The Baroque is a movement that replaced Mannerism as a reaction towards its complex and formulaic style (Carl & Charles, 2009). Furthermore, Mannerist motifs was brought to France by the Italian artists and craftsmen. Unlike the Spanish, the French Renaissance did not copy the Italian’s. Instead, it developed its own classical style after the observation of other civilizations’ principles and elements (Harwood, May & Sherman, …show more content…
The Spanish Renaissance motifs at early stages was a mixture of different civilizations yet the Moorish heritage had the biggest impact on it. It revealed the geometric grid and the complex in Islamic designs. By the mid of the 16th century, as the Spanish Renaissance became more influenced by the Italian’s, lavish motifs were replaced with a classical and formal decorations. Therefore, symmetry, order and proportion became important principles to be applied on floor plans, interiors and architecture. On the other hand, these principles were applied during the whole French Renaissance period. Moreover, French Renaissance own style was developed considering the richness of a surface more than its proportion (Harwood, May & Sherman,2002).
At the end, the Renaissance represents a greatly significant period in human development. It did not only change Europe, but the whole world. Spain and France are two examples of the countries that Renaissance spread to. The growth in art, architecture, culture and religion that they had witnessed affected their economic and social lives. Therefore, without this period, societies nowadays would not be the way they are now if It was not for the awakening that happened during the
Renaissance is one of history’s shifts that have been recorded over the years. It is a French term that means rebirth. The Renaissance started in Italy in the early 1300s depending upon recapturing the classical civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome. By following the humanist movement, it focuses on building a world that its central values are human beings. Therefore, people worked on improving their own cultures, literature and art (Cox, 2015). The Renaissance had gradually spread northward to other European countries such as Spain and France to finally end around 1650. Although they both considered Italy as a source of inspiration, each country had its own history, concept and design character (Harwood, May …show more content…
Nevertheless, both Spanish and French Renaissance concepts share the Italian Renaissance and the Gothic impact on them. (Harwood, May & Sherman, 2002). Moreover, Spain was influenced by the Moorish heritage which is a variation of Islamic architecture that was named after the Moors, people from North Africa ruled the Iberian Peninsula (National Geographic Society, 2012). By the end of the 16th century, the design of Spanish Renaissance resembled the Italian’s to finally end up following Baroque movement after the Renaissance. The Baroque is a movement that replaced Mannerism as a reaction towards its complex and formulaic style (Carl & Charles, 2009). Furthermore, Mannerist motifs was brought to France by the Italian artists and craftsmen. Unlike the Spanish, the French Renaissance did not copy the Italian’s. Instead, it developed its own classical style after the observation of other civilizations’ principles and elements (Harwood, May & Sherman, …show more content…
The Spanish Renaissance motifs at early stages was a mixture of different civilizations yet the Moorish heritage had the biggest impact on it. It revealed the geometric grid and the complex in Islamic designs. By the mid of the 16th century, as the Spanish Renaissance became more influenced by the Italian’s, lavish motifs were replaced with a classical and formal decorations. Therefore, symmetry, order and proportion became important principles to be applied on floor plans, interiors and architecture. On the other hand, these principles were applied during the whole French Renaissance period. Moreover, French Renaissance own style was developed considering the richness of a surface more than its proportion (Harwood, May & Sherman,2002).
At the end, the Renaissance represents a greatly significant period in human development. It did not only change Europe, but the whole world. Spain and France are two examples of the countries that Renaissance spread to. The growth in art, architecture, culture and religion that they had witnessed affected their economic and social lives. Therefore, without this period, societies nowadays would not be the way they are now if It was not for the awakening that happened during the