Final french renaissance

The French Renaissance 17th Century (1600-1700)

What was the Renaissance? 

A rebirth of interest in classical knowledge, art, architecture and thought 

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Rediscovery of classical texts (e.g., Virgil, Ovid, and Cicero) Rise of Humanism 

Transition from medieval scholastic logic and metaphysics to language, literature, rhetoric, history, and ethics

Outline      

What was the Renaissance?

Factors shaping renaissance cities History of French renaissance First R-Towns in France Features of R-towns Example  Place Royale(Place des Vosges)  Palace de la Concorde  Grand Boulevard

Factors shaping renaissance cities 

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Modernization of warfare and the rise of the nationstate.

Colonial exploration, exploitation, and expanding networks of trade.

Dangers of rapid urbanization.

Political and geographical divisions within Christianity.

History ď Ž

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The French Renaissance was the cultural and artistic movement in France between the late 15th and early 17th C The French Renaissance traditionally extends from (roughly) the French invasion of Italy in 1494 during the reign of Charles VIII until the death of Henry IV in 1610.

First R-Towns in France: ď Ž

VitrylFrancois, 1545 (6.2)

First R-Towns in 

Phillipville, 1550—influence from the ideal city of R-Italy (6.3)

First R-Towns in ď Ž

Charlesville, 1608-20 (6.4)

Features of R-towns: Citadel  

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grid iron pattern central square and secondary squares star-shaped defensive city wall structure Perimeter layout of the houses Residential precinct— arcaded two storey house with individual roofs in perimeter layout, entrance facing the residential court

Secondary wall

Primary wall

Examples

a. Lle de la cite b. Lle st. Louis c. The louver d. The Tuileries Garden 3. Place des Vosges 4. Place des victories 5. Place Vendome 6. Site of the Place dela Concrode f. Line of the Grand Bouleverd

Residential Precinct-Place Royale(Place des Vosges

Plan of Place des Vosges

history 

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Originally a hotel and its gardens (used as townhouse of Duke) Later demolished and turned to Horse Market 1604, Velvet manufactory built in one wing with three residential terraces forming and enclosed square.

In 1606, factory was shut down and northern side was built matching the factory side buildings.

Features ď Ž

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A square of perfect symmetry.

Comprising thirty-six grand houses nine on each side The houses of the residential terraces are entered from the square court and not from the street that was usual in earlier planning. The residential precinct thus was free from urban traffic.

Features ď Ž

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All buildings facing the court were made to have the same elevation design.

Steep roof with dormer windows.

Features ď Ž

Arcaded enclosure connecting all houses. oil painting , polish school,17th CenturyParis, musĂŠe Carnavalet

Palace de la Concorde

History  

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A competition was invited to place the statue of Louis XV. Various locations in Paris were proposed by individual architects. The collection of this competition was published in 1765.

Gabriel won the competition.

The place was built between 1755-75. The statue of Louis XV was erected at the centre of the Place in 1755.

During the French Revolution, the statue was demolished, and his son was guillotined in 1793 in this square. The square was then renamed Place de la Revolution.

In 1854 an obelisk robbed from Egypt was erected in the place of statue.

The Place de la Concorde (1755-75)

Features 

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In contrast to earlier royal squares that were built to form enclosed squares with buildings around it, this one is built in open landscape.

Gabriel brought the four existing axes in a planned relationship He made a 15’deep ditch around the square with surrounding balustrade. In 1854, the ditch was filled with water.

Angles were cut off to provide entries from corresponding obliquely approaching streets.

Features 

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At the north of the square, Gabriel built two identical wings along the axis. But initially only façade screens were built.

Completion of buildings behind took many more years.

The Madeline Church was started in 1764. Following its checquered history, it survived proposals of 1834 to build the first railway station of Paris in its place.

In 1854 two fountains in the axis of the two oblique streets were placed in the square, which was also the initial plan of Gabriel.

Grand Boulevard History: ď Ž

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The second ring defensive wall around the north of Paris was built in 14th c and the western portion between 1610-43.

With the stability in French politics, the walls gradually became defunct and the northwest section was cleared in 1660.

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The wall was cleared to build a four lane carriage with pedestrian path on either side of the lane with double rows of tree lining.

The work was completed in 1705.

The boulevard then continued to mark the limit of Paris.

Beyond it building was forbidden.

The boulevard came into regular use by around 1750 probably with the maturing of trees making the site a recreational area.

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The carriage way was paved in 1778 and all weather asphalt pavement in 1838.

Many other cities of Europe had undergone similar changes following that of Paris. The rings of City walls have given way to rings of boulevards in cities such as Cologne and Vienna.

Britain, however, had no significant defenses after the early middle ages.

Paris had two more encircling walls built –one in 1784-91 and the other in 1841-45. These walls were for custom purposes.