Reading Comprehension 4

1.

One thing that links all 5 artifacts is repetition. All of the pieces each use repetition in their own way. The Neo-Palladian/Georgian desk and bookcase use pattern and Chinoiserie ornamentation through carvings, and other forms of decoration that are wrapped around the piece of furniture. The American Georgian Windsor chair uses repetition by the way it was built, with repeating wooden rods that make up the back of the chair. The tall clock by Martub Carlin uses a repetition of heavy gilding throughout the clock. The State Bed from Osterly Park in the Late English Georgian Style has classical ornament and swags repeating along the top canopy. The Sheraton Side Chair of the American Federal style uses repetition apparent in the design that attaches the upholstery to the frame of the chair. Also in the lines of the frame, the horizontal beams of wood are repetitive throughout the chair.

All 5 spaces have one thing in common that I notice right away – harmony. Harmony is the use of elements that relate to each other to make a visually pleasing effect. The Holkam Hall Saloon has geometric patterns that are carried throughout the room in the ceiling, wall, furniture, and architecture that are all related to each other. The Gunston Hall Stair Hall uses arches throughout the room in the architecture, railings, and wallpaper, which are pleasing to the eye when looking around the room. The bedroom of Marie Antoinette is extremely sinuous which can be hectic, but it is harmonic because everything is related to each other in its curved lines and femininity. The Saltram House Saloon is similar to the Holkam Hall Saloon because of the use of geometric patterns. The design on the Saltram Saloon’s ceiling and carpet is very similar and the use of rectangles and geometric shapes are apparent throughout the room. The Gardner-Pingree house parlor uses classical features throughout the room – especially in the mantel, window treatment, cornice and door surroundings.

The 5 buildings listed can be simply linked by their use of lines and direction. The Chiswick House uses lines in many ways. First are vertical lines in the columns used throughout on the façade in the portico as well as entry staircases. Then there are angled lines on the entry staircases, pediment, and octagonal dome. Lastly are horizontal lines of the cornice. The Drayton Hall has horizontal lines which stick out on the façade of the building, defining where each level is and also lines of the cornice and exposed staircase in front. There are angled lines in the pediment and roof. Columns on the front show vertical lines. The Pantheon is made up of several vertical lines of the columns. And similar to the other buildings, angled lines on the pediment and horizontal lines of the cornice and stairs. The Nathaniel Russell House is made up mainly of horizontal and vertical lines. Horizontality is evident in the cornice, protruding lines on the façade, and the roof. Vertical lines are shown mainly by the windows and door. Lastly, Monticello uses angled lines in the dome and pediment. Horizontal lines are in the stairs, cornice, and windows. Vertical lines are in the columns and roof.

"It is difficult to assign one descriptive term to encompass all architecture from 1600 to 1750, for several independent courses of development were being pursued simultaneously" -Roth

To me, this quote explains architects use all different developmental ideas to come up with their final product. Designs from throughout history can be related to each other because they are made up of borrowed ideas from each other.

2.

“English colonists, who settle the eastern seaboard, reproduce the houses and furnishings they knew at home.” (Harwood) When the English came over to the U.S. they wanted to mimic forms that they were familiar with from where they came from. Timber was available for use of homebuilding and furniture even though that’s not directly what the English were used to – England used more brick construction.

The Spanish found their new land in Florida as a place where they could use their own style and build upon it. The architecture follows contemporary Spanish Renaissance and some Baroque styles. Although the spanish typically used stone, adobe was available so they adopted that style of building from the Native Americans. But instead of layering the clay, they used their own style of forming rectangular bricks and stacking them. The Spanish kept their original designs of furniture, only altering them slightly.

The French recreated society in the U.S., changing things to make them more sophisticated like they were used to in France. "Steeply pitched roofs, half timber construction, and square shapes are common French characteristics" (Harwood). The floor plan of the Parlange Plantation is extremely square with rectangular rooms fitting together. The Houssaye House follows French characteristics in its steeply pitched hipped roof. The Armoires include geometric shapes.

Settlers from Germany and Holland brought native medieval building and furnishing traditions to America. Many houses mix materials, like stone and wood - seen in the Single Brother's House. In Germany, wood was a more common material and stone showed wealth. Andrew Jackson's Parlor and Chamber is a great example of a German interior. It is simple, uses wide boards as flooring, and different types of wood for furniture.

3.

It has been said that Palladio got inspiration from music. During the Renaissaince, music was an essential part of life. Composers based music on horizontal contrapuntal (with two or more independent melodic lines) style and harmony based vertical arrangement of intervals including 3rds and 6ths. The floorplan I designed is a possible Palladian villa because of the shapes used and the way they were used with inspiration from Girolamo Frescobaldi’s Balletto Terzo. The sinuous lines in the floorplan represent contrapuntal style. It is broken up into 3rds on each sice of the main floorplan with 3 shapes making up each side – excluding the porticos.

4.

"Baroque space is independent and alive - it flows and leads to dramatic culminations" - Henry A. Millon (Roth)

Agreeing with the words of Henry A. Millon, I do believe that the Baroque period stands as a form of social performance in the theatre of the world. Baroque is truly unique upon other architectural styles. It uses bold color effects, light effects, ornamentation, and maybe most of all - emotion. Bernini's Ectasy of Saint Teresa defines the use of emotion in the Baroque period. The statue sits on a type of stage, elevated and illumated in the Cornaro Chapel. The statue creates a spiritual and emotional event for people in its presence.

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In class, we talked about several buildings and pieces of architecture. One that stood out as a symbol of Baroque style is the Trevi Fountain in Rome. It takes over the whole façade of the building behind it and provides a water and light show. This fountain has become a gathering place and must-see for tourists. It demands attention – just like the Baroque style, as well as theatre.

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