Starting in the 15th century, the Spanish Renaissance came about thanks to local architects. In order to further understand the different architectural & decoration styles that would have been seen at this time, I will go into more detail about three main styles.
Plateresco
Also known as Silversmith's style. The delicate ornamentation was made as carefully as if it was the work of a silversmith, and decorated as richly. The decoration was mainly of plant motifs, but also had a lot of medallions, animal figures, etc. This style included a lot of various types of materials. In the picture, you can see the facade of the University of Salamanca.
Desornamentado
This style was a reaction to the Plateresco style. Instead of the profusely ornamentation, this style is much more simple. It's carefully defined proportions made it powerful and allowed it to be characterized by austerity. The Escorial is an example of this architectural style.
Churrigueresco
This style replaced the Desornamentado with something more passionate. It emphasized sculptures, wood carvers, and architectures because it was promoted by a family of craftsmen. Churrigueresco was mainly stucco decoration that was marked by extreme and expressive detailing, normally found above the entrance on the main facade of a building. This style can be seen in this picture of the Basilica of Nuestra Senora de la Merced.
Modern Examples
Along with the architectural styles, Spanish style interiors are also very recognizable. Below are some examples of current applications.
Helpful Videos
Moorish Architecture in Spain | https://youtu.be/38kmLyWc2iw
Baroque Architecture Overview | https://youtu.be/H7YWPQ2hgVE
Peer Reviews
Nichole | I liked that along with the information that Nichole discussed she also added a video about the topics that she didn't cover in detail.
Paige | I really enjoyed all of the pictures that Paige provided in her post. It was very helpful in order to visualize the topics that were being discussed.
Over the period of the Renaissance, there was a progression from simple and functional to decorated. This can be seen in all aspects of style and design from this time period, whether it be architectural or on a smaller scale of furniture.
Interiors
A Renaissance interior could be characterized with high contrast in color and surface articulation. Most walls were plaster, painted or featuring frescoes. More elaborate rooms may have had a treated wall with marble or wood paneling. Walls also often included wall hangings. Made of leather or fabric, these hangings could be relatively simple or embroidered and gilded. Floors were most commonly made of wood, but in more fancier rooms they had brick or tile. Marble and Turkish carpets were some of the extremely elaborate, rare options. Ceilings were very important to the interior of a Renaissance building. The ceilings became a space to be designed and were often considered a piece of architecture. Beams were used to emphasize the horizontal plane of the ceiling. The beams were painted and sometimes carved with classical details.
Furniture
Many big Renaissance pieces of furniture resemble buildings. They have a base, multiple stories and columns, and an overhanging cornice. Elaborate beds with tall headboard could be found. The Renaissance bed differed from the Roman bed because it was no longer used for dining and was much more monumental in size, form, and decoration. Chests continued to play an important part of furniture that had multiple uses. A cassapanca was a chest that was often used as seating; it was slightly taller and had a back and arms. A credenza was a storage unit with a higher elevation than a chest. It was used for storage and display. Smaller furniture of this time was a continuation of the medieval period. Seating was much more simple when compared to the furniture around it. The most common seating found were stools, benches, and chairs.
Modern Examples
The elaborate bed and ceiling design of the pictures below are aspects that relate to the Italian Renaissance design period. The more modern pieces can take on a much simpler form or continue to incorporate elaborate details.
Helpful Videos
Renaissance Art & Architecture in Florence | http://youtu.be/8xSEamC-Qxo
Italian Renaissance Art Overview | http://youtu.be/rVQBVE9BzYk
Peer Reviews
Emma | I really liked the emphasis on architecture that Emma had on her blog. Since I focused more on the interior aspects of this time, it was very interesting to learn more about the exteriors.
Shannon | I thought it was awesome that Shannon found pictures of a whole house that was decorated from this time period. It was really cool to see the style in so many different applications.
